As Cape Town’s icy winter nights begin to bite, those living on the streets face some of the harshest conditions, but a new 60-bed Safe Sleeping Zone in the CBD aims to offer warmth, dignity and protection to the city’s most vulnerable residents.

The initiative, a collaboration between Cape Town Central City Improvement District (CCID) and the Haven Night Shelter, will launch in District Six on Tuesday 2 June.

Tara Gerardy-Bissolati, CCID Social Development manager, says the Safe Sleeping Zone is a four-month pilot project forming part of the CCID’s Winter Readiness Programme which will provide temporary shelter and support for chronically homeless people who are often excluded from existing facilities due to eligibility criteria.

“Winter is very harsh for people living on the streets as they are exposed to freezing temperatures, wet and unsafe conditions.

“They often have limited access to suitable shelter. Our aim with this project is to improve the quality of life and foster a more inclusive CBD.”

Shaddie Valayadum, chief executive officer of the Haven Night Shelter, said they hope to create a “meaningful impact”.

“It has been designed as a low-threshold sleeping space, or overnight emergency accommodation rather than long-term housing, providing vulnerable individuals with protection during winter.”

Winter Relief

According to the Haven, there are an estimated 14 000 people living on the streets in the city, but only around 3 800 shelter beds available. At its District Six facility, it has 90 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.

“By mid-June, which is only the beginning of winter, we often see our capacity already exceeding 80%. The Safe Sleeping Zone will provide significant and much-needed relief by helping to ease capacity constraints.”

Tasso Evangelinos, CCID chief executive officer, says the project has strong “potential for growth”.

“While it is a targeted response to immediate winter needs, our hope is that its success will pave the way for expansion into other parts of the CBD and beyond.”

Evangelinos said 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

Evangelinos said access to the site will be managed through a controlled referral and ticket-based system, with people referred directly by the CCID from within its 1.6 km² footprint.

The shelter will open at 19:00 at night, with final entry at 21:30, and residents exiting the site at 06:30 the following morning.

According to Evangelinos, the facility will be equipped with a maximum of 60-fold-up stretchers, emergency blankets and pillows. Basic nourishment, including a hot drink, will be provided.

He said residents will also receive off-site meal tokens at The Service Dining Rooms, an organisation feeding homeless people.

The shelter will offer secure on-site facilities, including ablutions, storage, CCTV monitoring and dedicated security personnel.

Evangelinos said couples will be accommodated, while trained CCID peer field workers will provide support services focused on safety, mental health and harm reduction.

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