The City of Cape Town is inviting registered non-profit organisations (NPOs) working with homeless communities to submit business plans for the construction and operation of a proposed safe space shelter in Muizenberg.
The initiative, led by the City’s Community, Arts and Culture Development (CACD) Department, forms part of the municipality’s ongoing efforts to provide structured support and safer accommodation for people living on the streets.
According to the City, the proposed Muizenberg Safe Space facility will be situated on Sidmouth Road and accommodate up to 60 people once completed.
The successful organisation will be responsible for funding, constructing, operating and managing the shelter for a minimum period of 10 years.
The City said the selected NPO would enter into a Facility Management Agreement (FMA), which would govern both the construction phase and the long-term management of the site.
Application requirements
Officials explained that all applications would need to comply with the City’s Supply Chain Management processes and strict operational requirements.
Preference will be given to organisations that have already been providing developmental or homelessness-related services within the Muizenberg area and that have been registered as NPOs for at least five years.
As part of the application process, organisations have been asked to submit a detailed business plan outlining how the facility would operate sustainably while supporting people sleeping rough on the streets.
The City said applicants would also need to provide a management plan, sustainability strategy, organisational structure, staff profiles with certified qualifications, tax clearance certificates, recommendation letters and copies of their constitution. A public participation meeting on the proposed shelter was scheduled to take place at Youth With a Mission (YWAM) in Wherry Road, Muizenberg, on Tuesday 27 May at 18:30.
Residents and interested stakeholders were invited to attend the session to review and comment on the proposed initiative.
Supporting vulnerable residents
The City said the public participation process is aimed at ensuring community input before the project moves forward.
Officials added that support will also be available for residents who may need assistance submitting comments due to disabilities or literacy challenges.
The proposed Muizenberg shelter forms part of the City’s broader Safe Space programme, which seeks to provide temporary accommodation and developmental support services to homeless individuals across Cape Town.
These facilities typically offer access to beds, ablution facilities, social work support, meals and programmes aimed at helping residents transition away from homelessness.
The City said it hoped the project would create a safer and more supportive environment for vulnerable residents while also helping address homelessness in a more structured and sustainable manner.
Applications officially opened on Thursday 15 May and will close on Monday 15 June this year.
Interested organisations may submit applications via email or deliver them by hand to the City’s Community, Arts and Culture Development offices at the Cape Town Civic Centre.
For more information, contact the City at media.account@capetown.gov.za.
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