Homeless find hope at Windhoek church shelter

A Windhoek church is providing shelter, warm meals and hope to people experiencing homelessness this winter, with some residents describing it as a chance to rebuild their lives.

Pastor Kenneth Linnon at Khomasdal Baptist Church in Khomasdal told The Namibian last Wednesday the church opened its doors to people experiencing homelessness after seeing the growing number of people sleeping on the streets during winter.

“We looked at the challenges people in our community face and realised we had a space that could accommodate people living on the streets, at least during the winter season,” he said.

The shelter, which officially opened on 7 June and operates from the church’s premises in Khomasdal, currently accommodates about 15 people, providing them with meals, a warm bed and daily devotion sessions for N$50 a day.

Linnon said the church conducted outreach drives around Khomasdal and surrounding areas to identify people living on the streets to inform them about the shelter.