Homeless Shelters
How to help someone into a shelter:
Ask if they would like to go to shelter. There are a lot of people living on the streets who've had bad experiences and would prefer not to live in a shelter. It's wise to assume that not everybody wants to live in a shelter.
Find out which shelter they would like to visit. There is a full list of operating shelters at the bottom of this page.
Phone ahead - make sure that there is a person at the shelter than can do an intake. No intake form = no admission.
Organize a time for that person to meet at the shelter - there will be an intake by a social worker - most work between 8am - 12pm.
Visit and phone on a regular basis to see how they are doing and if you can assist further.
1.) SHELTERS - HOW THEY WORK.
They are temporary.
They cost money.
They have rules.
1.) Intake:
Clients are required to be screened by a social worker before they get accepted - it's at the social worker's discretion whether they will be accepted into the shelter.
It’s suggested that for best results a client should go to the shelter between Monday and Friday from 9am - 12pm. If the social worker is not present then there can be no intake.
One should refer potential clients to the nearest shelter for a screening. From there the person will be referred to the nearest shelter with available beds for an assessment and longer term placement on condition that a Personal Development Plan has been agreed between the client and the Social Worker. No PDP = no hospitality.
2.) Fees:
No money is required up front. Up to 30 days free thereafter R12.00 per day or 1 Hour of Household chores per day.
On average shelters charge around R360 a month if you are unemployed and R700+ if you are employed or on a social/disability grant.
They operate MONTHLY meaning that they do not ask for money each night or even each week. Be aware of people telling you that they need money for a shelter that night. Especially over 6pm as most shelters have a curfew around that time.
3.) What you get:
Clients are only allowed to stay for 3 months - maximum 6 months. However, there are some cases where people have lived in a shelter for years.
If accepted, they will normally receive a toiletry/sanitary pack, a bed/blanket/pillow, a locker and 2 meals each day (breakfast and dinner).
4.) Curfews:
Most shelters are night shelters meaning that all the clients have to leave between 6am - 8am and can return from 4pm - 6pm.
1st and 2nd phase shelters have curfews meaning that you have to make arrangements with the supervisors and staff should you be working late or come back late.
5.) Rules, Duties, Codes & Conduct:
Every time a client has an issue or need they have to fill in a client relations form - this will be handed to the supervisor and then to the social worker.
3 strikes and you’re out. Some things that are considered a strike:
Missing a night without prior consent.
Being intoxicated.
Fighting, Verbal Abuse or Deformation.
Not doing your chores/responsibilities.
Not paying your shelter fees.
"The Haven Shelters offer Social Work Services towards reintegration. We do not provide accommodation. No social work means no hospitality in the Haven. " - Hassan Khan (CEO The Haven Night Shelter Welfare Organisation)

Shelter Name
Ceres - Haven
Haven - Bellville
Haven - Claremont
Haven - District Six
Haven Old Age Homes
Haven - Kalk Bay
Haven - Kensington
Haven - Kraaifontein
Haven Moira Henderson
Haven - Mosselbay
Haven - Napier Street
Haven -Paarl
Haven - Retreat
Haven - Swartland
Haven - Wynberg
The Ark
Owl Shelter
Happy Valley
Youth Solutions Africa
Somerset West
The Carpenter Shop
Elim Night Shelter
Stellenbosch Night Shelter
Cravenby Care Centre
Pride Shelter
Nuwe Begin Skuiling
George Night Shelter
Oasis "Reach for your Dreams"
Loaves and Fishes
Dust - To- Dawn
Ubuntu Circle of Courage
Contact
023 312 1578
021 945 1413
021 671 4209
021 465 1310
021 447 7422
021 788 5820
021 593 0276
021 987 1967
021 461 2533
044 691 0189
021 421 6219
021 862 1812
021 715 0817
022 486 5191
021 762 8243
072 292 4384
021 761 0944
021 786 5087
021 642 8006
021 851 4984
021 461 5508
021 591 2824
021 886 6173
021 933 3477
021 423 2871
023 342 7920
044 873 2787
021 704 6815
021 448 5900
021 931 3622
073 649 1323
Address
1 Owen Street, Ceres
2 South Street, Bellville
5 Fir Street, Claremont, 7780
20 Selkirk Street C/Town 8001
24 Dublin Street, Woodstock
139 Main Road, Kalk Bay, 7975
Cnr. 13th Avenue & Dapper Road, Kensington
20 Van der Ross Street, Kraaifontein
107 Chapel Street, Woodstock
3 Matfield Str, Mosselbay
2 Napier Street, Greenpoint
6 Ambagsvallei Street, Paarl
10th Avenue, Retreat
5 Varing Straat,Wesbank, Malmesbury
16a Piers Road, Wynberg
5 Old National Rd, Faure, Cape Town
9 Polaris Road, Lansdowne
Off Palace Hill Road, Simons Town
Cnr Russell & Chapel Str Zonnebloem
71 Church Street, Somerset West
14a Roeland Street Cape Town
47 Third Avenue, Elsies River
3 Tennant Street, Stellenbosch
12 Cravenby Street, Cravensby Estate Ravensmead
1 Molteno Rd, Oranjezight. Cape Town
Brook street, Riverview. Worcester
123 Memorium Street, George
Oasis Business Park Schaapkraal Rd Phillipi
Chatham Road, Observatory
127 Christian Street Ravensmead
16 Douglas Crescent, Delft