Hillbrow Sleep-out* 16 June 2013

Many of us do not know how it is to be homeless and I do not think that anyone can really understand what homelessness feels like without being truly and completely homeless with no where to go and with no plan B. On the 16th of June we had a sleep-out in Hillbrow with the homeless and most of us wanted to get to know our homeless friends better and possibly find ways to help them. Over 180 people came through and we all got to know each other. One of the aims of the sleep-out was to know how it felt like to be homeless. I conversed with a lot of people both homeless and otherwise, I was really touched by some stories I heard. Prior to the sleep-out a couple of friends and I have been going to the streets of Hillbrow on Thursday nights to hand peanut butter sandwitches, milk and whatever food we could get to the homeless, and I got to know most of the homeless by their names and their stories.

I met M* a girl from Rustenburg who lives in the streets of Hillbrow, but has hopes of finding a job and continuing her studies. What inspires me about M* is that although she is homeless, she sees a brighter future for herself. She has HOPE and FAITH. Most of us lack Hope and Faith and without faith or hope, you cannot possibly have the zeal to move forward and expect a brighter day.

In a nutshell the sleep-out was a huge success.In fact it was the best way I could have spend my youth day. I enjoyed being around a positive youth, a youth that is interested in helping someone in need. I was inspired by the youth that left the comfort of their homes to come spend the night with like minded people.There was a lot of dancing, story-telling and debates.

I am disappointed by the way society treats homosexuals. As a society we make them feel like they are beneath us and as a result they keep to themselves because they fear rejection. At the sleep-out there were 3 homesexual homeless guys who had one “tiny blanket” to share. There were scared to ask for some more blankets because they are scared of rejection & they already expect the answer to be no. Had it not been for my friends, they would have endured the cold………………..