Humanity Hub

What is it?

The Humanity Hub is a service centre at which we address the holistic needs of Troopers, starting with the basics to help them feel dignified (like clean clothes, toiletries, and something to eat) and extending to a full range of services tailored to their individual needs:

  • outreach and consulting
  • medical, addiction and psychiatric referrals
  • identification documents
  • grant applications
  • referrals within our network of social service providers
  • family mediation and reunification
  • job preparation and facilitation
  • accommodation placements
  • skills training and group work sessions
  • transport arrangements
  • assistance with legal issues
  • ongoing support and mentoring.

Our compassionate psychosocial development team works with every client individually using our CAST Model.

The CONNECT stage is the foundation of our work where our team establishes a relationship of trust with a client. Often this takes many interactions because the majority of our clients have experienced deep trauma and have been disappointed so many times before.
 
Once the client trusts our team, the work moves to the ASSESS stage. Our team takes an in-depth history of the client’s life, which includes their family situation, level of study, work experience, reasons for being on the streets, skills and talents, medical history, mental health, and obstacles standing in their way. Most important is for the client to express their hopes and dreams for how they would like their life to evolve.
 

The fieldworker and client then work out a series of steps the client can take with our SUPPORT. Sometimes, this requires our fieldworker to mediate between the client and their family to see if reconciliation is possible and whether the home is a safe space for the client. We then arrange and pay for the client’s transport home (to another province or country), prepare them for the journey and send them off with groceries and other basics.

Often the client needs an ID card before they can take other steps and we help them get their documentation in order. We can sometimes connect the client with a work opportunity or support them as they learn a new skill to increase their chances of employment. Many clients need trauma counselling or addiction support and we work within a network of service providers, always keeping in touch with the client and walking the long and often painful journey with them.

Each journey is unique and, even once they feel their life has TRANSFORMED, our fieldwork team remains in touch because transformation is an ongoing process of rebuilding a life.

The Humanity Hub is situated at 66 Newmarket street, Woodstock and is open to beneficiaries by appointment on Mondays–Thursdays from 8:30-4pm and Fridays from 8:30–3pm. This is the address at which we accept donations of clothing, shoes, toiletries, non-perishable food, and any other household items.
We are so grateful to Swindon Property for accommodating us in their premises.

We are proud to have the support of Swindon Property and grateful that they sponsor our rent.

MEET THE TEAM

Kerry Hoffman

founder and executive director

Moeshfieqah Bosch

office manager

Tasneem Hoosain-Fielies

social auxiliary worker

Jake Gluckman

Counsellor

Odette Oliver

African Worry Doll Supervisor

Gideon Venter

Admin and fieldwork assistant

Caryn Gootkin

fundraising and finance

Our Souper Squad project

Khulisa Social Solutions have included us in a large government funded stipend project that employs homeless people across several non-profit organisations in Cape Town. We are so grateful to them for inviting us to be part of this pilot initiative.

Thanks to Khulisa, we now employ a team of Troopers who chose the name Souper Squad to refer to their group. Our Squad members work in a community garden in the Bo Kaap, make African Worry Dolls for sale in our Souper Shop, run our Troopers coffee sales, and fulfil various roles within the organisation.

The Souper Squad come to work daily,  enabling us to work with them daily on their paths to independence. This newly launched Souper Squad project pays each team member a stipend to work on projects for communities and institutions needing help to improve their neighbourhoods and facilities – think gardening, painting, clean ups, makeovers, youth engagement … the possibilities are endless

Part of the Souper Squad program includes compulsory group workshops, creative outlets like art and music, skills training, and other activities aimed at preparing them for their future working lives. As part of their transformation, these Troopers have an opportunity to step up and improve life for others, uplifting themselves at the same time. They learn skills, gain experience, take personal responsibility, and forge relationships – all crucial aspects of their CAST journey – while building their CVs to ensure future independence.

Journalist Telford Vice wrote a beautiful article in the Daily Maverick about the work The Souper Squad has done in The Bo Kaap Helpers Garden. Volunteer Ilana Stone wrote a touching piece about our the Souper Squad’s work on our African Worry Doll project. 

I am overjoyed with emotion right now. The Souper Squad came into my life when I most needed to be surrounded by kindness and humane beauty. I have been struggling for a while with many human challenges and now I am in a far better emotional state. Shukran to all at Souper Troopers.”
Abieda Charles
Project leader

Meet some of the Troopers

Who are Troopers?

Troopers are homeless people who have come to The Humanity Hub to improve their lives. In telling their stories, we have not used their real names to protect their privacy.

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