Social Work: the Hidden Reality of Homelessness in Freetown:
In the seven year plus in a row responding to the homelessness situation in freetown, Social Workers Sierra Leone -SWSL, our attempt was to influence public empathy and attract support for individual experiencing homelessness.
As social workers, our role suppose to be helping those individuals to get the essentials support needed to live a normal life. This is upon conducting proper assessment to examine their strengths and weaknesses and establish support mechanisms for them to see the possibility of transformation to attain a normal life.
Homelessness- means lack of home in short. But, the pathways to homelessness in the- Sierra Leone context points at discrimination at every level, for a persons with physical disabilities as they account the highest number for homelessness. Second to individuals living with mental health conditions next are the youths migrating from upcountry to Freetown, for a better life ended up becoming homeless- the smaller percentage are the runaway youths and children from their homes to the streets.
And homelessness is in the rising, the system is yet to recognize homelessness, government both past and present making no effort to recognize homelessness.
For 3 in 5 homeless person we encountered battling with physical healt, they will cry for help, and sadly we are not resourceful to provide such help, no link for referal that can make it helpful for us and ultimately for those in need of the service.
” None of us is safe until we all are”, says António Guterres, UN Secretary-General.
Running the Sunday meal service which relying on donations since inception to-date with only one time financial support from the government.
Homelessness shouldn’t only limited to maintenance — it needs intervention, structure, and real help.
Treatment. Housing. Accountability. A path forward.
We remain grateful to everyone donating to keep the Sunday meal service going to address hunger and make food accessible for few. We still struggling to maintain a food supply above one hundred due to donations constraints. For a population of over 300 hundred individuals experiencing homelessness in Freetown.
Special thanks to: Grant & Jones T/A Red Lion Bakery,Caritas Freetown, Lift a Village
Let’s remember: homelessness is a human problem, a real issue. In case you want to be a monthly donor or supporting the Sunday meal service kindly donate here: https://www.paypal.me/liftavillage or via orange money number: +23276448932.
At SWSL, we believe- everyone deserves care a life of dignity. But we can’t do it alone, together we can make people experiencing homelessness live a dignified life.