Claremont Cares: CIDC Social outreach
Jane Adams * (not her real name) has been on the streets of Claremont for more than 10 Years. On a daily basis she could be found sitting in Station Road, either reading or consuming alcohol with her homeless friends.
The streets have not been kind to her as she has been victim to many attacks, some by people she knew and called friends.
After returning from hospital after having been assualted on the streets once again, she sought help from the CIDC to get into a shelter.
The CIDC Fieldworkers arranged for her to be screened at a shelter. She passed the screening test and was accepted and provided with a bed space.
The shelter co-ordinator has informed the CIDC that they will assist her with transportation to and from hospital for her future appointments. They will also assist her with her ID and grant applications.
Please note the image below is blurred out to protect the identification of the individual involved.
CIDC Social Fieldworker, Carmen Bosman (pictured below in her office) visited Jane Adams*, (not her real name), who was recently placed into a shelter with the assistance of the CIDC (see Facebook post of 22 June 2017).
Carmen took some time out to get to know the real person and how she landed up on the streets of Claremont
Jane Adams*, who will be turning 52, was born on 20 July 1965 . She was the eldest of eight children and is one of three siblings still alive.
She grew up in Parkwood Estate, where she met her husband and went on to have two children, a son and a daughter. Her husband and son have passed away, but her daughter is still alive.
As a young adult Jane* worked at places such as Rex True Form and Peninsula Knitting World. In the 1980’s she was arrested for assault and as a result she battled to find permanent employment, due to her criminal case against her.
She managed to find odd jobs here and there, which included assisting the informal traders in Claremont and she would often make her way down Station Road on her breaks, ,where she would end up drinking with the homeless people in the area. This started her downward spiral and not long thereafter she lost whatever employment she had.
Her first time sleeping on the streets was in Wynberg. She also moved to the streets of Kenilworth and Claremont thereafter where she lived for a number of years.
Whilst living rough, she met her second husband in 1989. She managed to get off the streets and was living in Ottery until her second husband passed away in 2012. After his passing the house was sold by his family and she ended up with nothing. Soon she found herself back on the streets of Claremont where she sold alcohol to other vagrants.
When Jane* was recently assaulted by one of her friends on the street, she decided that she had had enough of street living and this is when she approached the CIDC and was assisted with placement into a shelter.
She is very happy where she currently is enjoying a warm meal, a comfortable bed, clean clothing and water.
