Homelessness is more than just the absence of shelter—it is a pandemic with deep implications that ripple through the lives of those affected.
On Wednesday, 20 August, Kudzo Foundation had the privilege of participating in the Point-in-Time Count for displaced people hosted by Jozi My Jozi. This exercise was more than data collection; it was about listening. And the voices we heard spoke with clarity and urgency: the need for job opportunities, access to skills training, and above all, the replacement of lost South African IDs. We all know the frustration of navigating life without a valid ID. For displaced individuals, this is not just frustrating—it is a barrier to dignity, healthcare, social services, and employment.
To respond, Kudzo Foundation, in collaboration with shelter providers and the Department of Home Affairs, launched PROJECT ID RELOADED—an ongoing program designed to address one of the root challenges of homelessness: the loss of documentation.
Through this initiative, we aim to:
- Facilitate the replacement of 300 IDs for displaced individuals.
- Provide 100 beneficiaries with access to financial literacy or digital literacy training.
- Ensure each participant receives an entry-level bank account—helping them safeguard income and build a foundation for sustainable reintegration.
This is more than just restoring documents. It’s about restoring dignity, opportunity, and hope. With your partnership, together we can reintegrate 300 individuals back into society—one ID, one skill, and one life at a time.