A new emergency shelter space has made a huge impact on the Cape Town CBD’s homeless community, providing overnight accommodation and support during the cold winter months.
The Safe Sleeping Zone, an emergency overnight sleeping space for rough sleepers, has made a “tremendous impact” on the homeless community of the Cape Town CBD and become a “significant intervention” since opening in June 2026.
The ground-breaking facility – a collaboration between the Cape Town Central City Improvement District (CCID) and its NGO partner The Haven Night Shelter – has provided safe, dignified accommodation for more than 200 clients of the CCID’s Social Development department since its inception.
The four-month pilot not only provides a bed for the night but also practical and social support for chronically homeless individuals who are often excluded from existing facilities due to eligibility criteria, says Tara Gerardy-Bissolati, manager of CCID Social Development.
“We have been able to engage meaningfully with individuals who may otherwise remain disconnected from social services. The facility has become an important entry point into the broader continuum of care, enabling individuals to access social support, healthcare, documentation assistance, substance use services, employment opportunities, and, importantly, longer-term shelter placements.”
SAFE & STRUCTURED
Located in District Six under the Selkirk Street carriageway, adjacent to The Haven Night Shelter, the temporary facility will operate until September 2026 in its present form, offering safe and structured overnight accommodation for up to 60 people per night.
“At the heart of the initiative is the idea that no one should sleep exposed to the cold, and we are grateful that through this collaboration, we are creating meaningful impact,” says The Haven CEO Shaddie Valayadum.
“It has been designed as low-threshold sleeping space, or overnight emergency accommodation rather than long-term housing, providing vulnerable individuals with protection during winter.”
The Safe Sleeping Zone forms part of the CCID’s Winter Readiness Programme for 2026, which sees the organisation expand its support during the colder months by increasing access to additional bed space for clients at The Haven and Youth Solutions Africa.
While CCID Social Development sponsors 43 beds at shelters throughout the year, during winter it increases this by 45 more beds, helping to meet the heightened demand for safe overnight shelter during winter. The emergency shelter will increase the total bed space sponsored by the CCID during winter to 148.
CONTROLLED REFERRAL
Access to the site is managed through a controlled referral and ticket-based system, with individuals referred directly by the CCID from within its 1.74 km² footprint. The shelter opens nightly at 19h00, with final entry at 21h30, and residents exiting the site at 06h30 the following morning.
The facility is equipped with a fold-up stretchers, emergency blankets and pillows. Basic nourishment, including a hot drink, will be provided. There are also bunk beds on site in sheltered containers.
Says Gerardy-Bissolati: “The initiative has had a tremendous impact on the homeless community by reducing vulnerability to violence, theft, harsh weather conditions, and other risks associated with rough sleeping, while restoring a sense of safety and stability for many of its users. It has also become an invaluable resource for the CCID night peer field workers, who utilise the facility to refer clients looking for a safe sleeping space during their nightly outreach operations.”
CLEAR RULES
Residents receive off-site meal tokens which they can exchange for a meal at District Six NGO The Service Dining Rooms. Ablution facilities and secure container storage is available on-site, and the facility is enclosed by perimeter fencing, well-lit, and monitored through CCTV cameras to ensure safety and security. Dedicated security guards and overnight supervisors are present.
The shelter operates under clear rules to support the safety and wellbeing of all occupants. In addition, six CCID peer field workers are on duty at the site, all of whom have received training in First Aid, mental health de-escalation, harm reduction and induction processes.
SIGNIFICANT RELIEF DURING WINTER
According to The Haven, there are an estimated 14 000 people living on the streets in Cape Town, but only around 3 800 shelter beds available. “Winter places significant strain on shelters as demand for warm beds and basic care increases, particularly during storms and periods of severe weather,” says Valayadum.
As Gerardy-Bissolati explains, "The Safe Sleeping Zone is far more than a place to sleep; it is where trust is built, dignity is restored, and hope begins. Supporting more than 200 individuals into shelters in such a short space of time demonstrates what can be achieved when compassion is combined with practical support and strong partnerships."
IMAGES: CCID