Meet Peter Dennis George Whittaker

Peter is blessed to be a graduate of our Full Circle Homeless Program, and at 68 years old, has had some challenging circumstances in his life.

Peter was 9 years old when his father passed away at 42 years old. His mother, then 37 years old, was forced to work two jobs in order to put food on the table for Peter and his sister and 4 brothers. Peter was able to get through Standard 6 (Grade 8) level of schooling before he had to go to work to help earn money for the family. Over the years, Peter has worked as a laborer in the building trade, an upholsterer, and as a fisherman in the fishing industry. More recently, he earned money by doing freelance garden work, painting houses and cleaning gutters.

After his mother passed away in the early 80’s Peter did not want to stay with his family any longer and in his own words, became a street person. He continued to work in his areas of expertise and would basically sleep on stoops or in night shelters when he could afford it. Five years ago a social worker brought him to Paarl because Paarl is home to one of the largest night shelters in the Western Cape. Peter was able to get enough work here in Paarl to be able to afford (along with his small pension) a bed in the night shelter. Peter became involved with our Full Circle Homeless Program two years ago, and very quickly moved from street sweeper and cleaner to a foreman. After working in this capacity for several months, he began to provide additional assistance to the MCM Coffee Shop which is located next door to the Full Circle Homeless offices. He quickly worked himself into a part time custodian of our Coffee Shop and regularly shows up to work at 5:00 in the morning to make sure that the property is swept and cleaned and our tables are set out before our breakfast clients arrive each morning. He also maintains the gardens and does other tasks as needed.

As a result of this job, and some additional freelance gardening jobs that he continues to manage, we are celebrating with Peter his one year anniversary of having moved into his own flat. He shared in his interview that he feels blessed that God has given him good health, surrounded him with good people and friends and given him the ability to continue to work to make a living to support himself. He also shared his lifetime dream...that God would give him his own house before he dies. He is trusting God for that.

We are the blessed ones to have Peter as a member of our team. And may his story bless you too.