Financial crisis could force quadriplegic home to close

The Masonic Home for Quadriplegics and Paraplegics in Uitzicht, Durbanville, is gripped by a financial crisis that has forced it to sell one of its buses to pay staff.

The home, a non-profit organisation, was founded in 2004 and forms part of the QuadPara Association of South Africa (QASA), according to the home resident and volunteer Lize Pitt.

The home accommodates seven quadriplegics/paraplegics and employs six caregivers who provide 24-hour care for the residents, according to chairman Donald Pitt.

"Our running costs are in excess and it is an ongoing struggle to make ends meet. We receive a nominal monthly state subsidy and the balance of required funds needs to be generated from fund-raising initiatives and donations,“ he said.

The pandemic caused most of their benefactors to cease their funding leaving the home with even more expenses.

“The home needs between R20 000 and R30 000 per month in order to survive as there’s a shortfall in staff wages every month. There is a very real possibility now of the house having to be closed if things don’t turn around extremely quickly,” he said.

Before the pandemic, the home struggled but could still cover its monthly expenses, said Ms Pitt.

“Our Club 500 Project, where we ask people to commit to a monthly donation of R50, has always been a steady monthly income-generating project. However, with the pandemic, a lot of our Club 500 members could no longer afford monthly donations. The reserve funds from the savings amount then got depleted quickly, and residents had to pay more for board and lodging to make up the shortfall, but that could not be sustained as the majority only receive a state grant,” she said.

The care staff's wages and water-and-electricity costs account for most of the home’s monthly expenses.

“We were unable to pay the staff's wages for August 2022 hence we decided to try and sell the bus to cover staff wages for a few more months because the home cannot operate without staff as residents need 24-hour care. Even with the selling, we knew it will not change our financial situation, but it will at least give us a few more months,” said Ms Pitt.

For more information or to make a donation, contact Lize Pitt at lizepitt@gmail.com or 071 675 0052.