A 22 year old young women was taken into the shelter in June 2020 after being on the streets for 18 months. She originally came from Johannesburg to work in Cape Town. When she arrived in Cape Town she was told that the accommodation and the job she came for was taken by someone else.

Feeling lost in Cape Town

She did not know anyone in Cape Town and felt lost. Down on her luck she still had to endure being robbed of her phone and could not make contact with any of her family in Johannesburg. She ended being on the streets. 18 months later, after much difficulty, she found her way to DSD who referred her to the Haven Night Shelter- Kensington.

Via Facebook connecting with family again

During her stay at the shelter she did some domestic work in the area and then bought herself a cheap phone that will allow her to go onto Facebook. She registered on Facebook and started communicating with her family in Johannesburg letting them know about her whereabouts.  She was not even sure if her parents are still alive, because when she left Johannesburg her mom was very ill. One of her family members noticed the Facebook page and made contact with her. Sadly she was informed that her mom has passed about 6 months ago but her dad is in the Western Cape and lives in the West Coast. She got the contact details from her dad from the family member and one Saturday morning early in July 2020 her dad and her older sister came to fetch her to live with them in Langebaan.

Thanks to the work of DSD and Haven Kensington this young woman was helped back to a home, family and community. Have a blessed Christmas!