Haven Night Shelter

ABOUT US

THE HAVEN BELIEVES NO ONE SHOULD HAVE TO LIVE ON OUR STREETS.

here comes a stage in the downward path of certain human beings at which point, they literally can no longer help themselves. At that point someone has to step in and give them a lift; that is what THE HAVEN tries to do.

The Haven Night Shelter was established in 1978 in Cape Town, South Africa. We were registered as a Section 21 (a) (Not for Gain) Public Company in 1983, a Non Profit Organisation in 2000, and as a Public Benefit Organisation in 2004.

Our method is to make temporary shelter, rehabilitation opportunities, social welfare services, family reunification services, physical care and support available to adult people living on the streets who are committed to reintegration.

To partner and co operate with religious institutions, organisations, welfare bodies, service providers, businesses, government departments, local authorities and individuals concerned with the care and welfare of the destitute.

To promote community awareness of the social problems arising out of destitution and to encourage the participation of the public in the alleviation of such problems.

To reduce the opportunities for people to continue to live on the streets.

SERVICES

FIELDWORKERS

We employ full-time staff to “hit the pavement” to encourage people to come off the streets and get the person back to a home. The process of getting a person back to their loved ones usually involves introducing them to a shelter like the Haven.

In addition the fieldworker engages with property owners, business and the City to reduce the “bed space” on our streets.

The fieldworker’s role is to actively encourage and create the opportunities for the Homeless person to get back to their loved ones and family. They do this by:

• Logging the person on the relevant City database of homeless people.
• Using whatever contact details they have to find the person’s family.
• Making contact with the family to find ways to get the person back to them.
• Making travel arrangements depending on the availability of funds.
• Ensuring the person gets to the train or bus station.
• Calling the family the following day to ensure that their loved one has arrived and is safe.
• De-registering the person from the City’s database.

The Haven sees its Vision and Mission as starting well outside the boundaries of its Shelters.

TEAM

Each shelter has a manager, 4 supervisors and almost every shelter has a social workers.

HOMELESS PERSONS ENTERING THE HAVEN

When a homeless person comes in the host of the day (supervisor) will welcome the person and explain what The Haven does and allow the homeless person/guest time to make up his mind whether The Haven is a partner for him on his way home or not. Once the guest indicates that s/he wishes to access the help from The Haven we begin a process of screening and begin the client registration process. The client completes a registration form and gets something to eat. That's where the Haven really begins to help. No fees for up to 5 days.

SOCIAL WORK

We are only able to help a homeless person on his journey ifs/he wants to work on getting to a home. The Haven employs social workers to undertake an in depth assessment and help the homeless person construct a personal development plan (PDP). The PDP requirements will indicate that needs to be done and for how long the temporary shelter is necessary in order for the client to successfully complete the requirements in the PDP. From this moment the guest is regarded as a client of The Haven. Progress is measured regularly and the PDP adjusted if necessary. The shelter manager is responsible for administration, hospitality, good order and arrangements with respect to work opportunities and the clients exit from The Haven.

SHELTER FEES

art of taking responsibility is that clients have to pay R12 per day for services if unemployed or R750 per month if income exceeds R140 pm. Clients can earn there stay at a shelter by working for in the shelter.

NPO / PBO

The Haven Night Shelter was established in 1978 in Cape Town, South Africa. We were registered as a Section 21 (a) (Not for Gain) Public Company in 1983, a Non Profit Organisation in 2000, and as a Public Benefit Organisation in 2004.

Many people that pass through the Haven have valuable skills that, if given the opportunity, can earn them a salary. A lot of them even aspire to bettering those skills, or learning new trades. Take a look at their CV's below and who knows, you could find the perfect person to fill that place on your team.

Join our Buy a bed campaign

We started the “Buy a bed” campaign to make The Haven Shelters more accessible for people living on the streets. Most homeless people know that they have to pay shelter fees starting from R12 per night. These shelter fees are not a goal it self but more that homeless adults learn to take responsibility again. Sometimes homeless people use that as an excuse not to come to the shelter. With the “Buy a bed” campaign we encourage the community to cover their shelter fees for the first 5 nights and help us to be a sustainable organisation. The campaign is especially for a homeless person with no income. We have more than 2500 new clients per year. So your help is highly appreciated. www.haven.org.za/buyabed

VOLUNTEER

To be a Haven Night Shelter Volunteer is a fantastic opportunity to give some of your time, laughter, and energy back to the community. Our customers need to be reminded that we still care for them and that they have a place in society. While donations help keep the doors open it is the personal touch of our Volunteers that breathe new energy and life into our Shelters.

Volunteers have the right to meaningful tasks and your contribution will be directed to the greatest benefit of the Shelter. You can volunteer your skills and time at a specific Haven Shelter or at Head Office, depending on where we have the need.

We appreciate your interest in the Haven Night Shelter.

OUR SHELTERS

• The Haven Bellville
• The Haven Ceres
• The Haven Claremont
• The Haven District Six
• Haven Homes (old age)
• The Haven Kalk bay
• The Haven Kensington
• The Haven Kraaifontein
• The Haven Moira Henderson House
• Mossel Bay
• The Haven Paarl
• The Haven Napier Street
• The Haven Swartland
• The Haven Retreat
• The Haven Wynberg