A new cashless donation system has been introduced at homeless service centres in Cape Town, enabling the public to purchase digital vouchers for homeless people as South Africa transitions towards digital payments.
Mi-change for Good, a voucher system supporting homeless people, is now piloting a digital programme allowing the community to purchase R15 digital vouchers using SnapScan QR codes.
Homeless participants can then redeem the vouchers at U-turn’s Homeless Service Centre in Claremont or Mould Empower Serve (MES) in Durbanville for essential services including meals, showers, clothing, and accommodation.
System prevents misuse
Carmen Dickenson, Mi-change national manager, said the system builds on existing payment habits.
“Many people already use SnapScan as part of their payment routines, so there’s no new learning involved. This lowers barriers to giving and makes it easy to act on the spot, allowing donors to respond to their initial empathy before the moment passes.”
The digital vouchers cannot be traded or sold, which organisers say prevents their misuse as an informal street currency and ensures donations directly support participants engaged in the programme.
“Our main goal is to provide people with a pathway out of homelessness,” Dickenson explained.
For participants, the vouchers signal that they are actively engaged in the programme, taking meaningful steps to leave homelessness behind, and rebuild their lives.
“By reducing street solicitation and limiting cash on the streets — which can often fuel addiction and dependency — digital Mi-change vouchers offer a safe, practical way to meet essential needs, whilst connecting individuals with support services.”
Research-based design informs expansion plans
The digital voucher system was developed in collaboration with behavioural research organisation ideas42, incorporating interviews and user-testing with both homeless individuals and donors. The pilot forms part of a broader collaboration between U-turn, MES, and the Citi Foundation.
Based on findings from the current pilot, Mi-change plans to expand the programme to additional U-turn and MES centres across Cape Town in the new year, with longer-term goals to extend into other regions.
Addressing digital economy challenges
Dickenson noted that the initiative addresses challenges created by South Africa’s increasingly digitised economy.
“For people living on the streets, the shift in spending means fewer opportunities to receive small cash donations. The digital vouchers help fill that gap in a practical, meaningful way.”
