A Better Way to Give.

The City of Cape Town’s network of care supports people experiencing homelessness on their journey towards a sustainable life off the street – and we need your help.

We understand that the journey from rough sleeping to reintegration can be complex and takes time. This campaign aims to raise awareness about rough sleeping and encourage residents to support sustainable interventions that help people on their journey off the street.

Instead of giving small change on the street, residents are encouraged to give responsibly by supporting interventions that can create lasting change. The City’s network of care brings together the City, shelters, and other partner organisations to provide coordinated, dignity-led, and person-centred support to people experiencing homelessness.

Through this network, people can access a range of services aimed at supporting their journey towards reintegration and sustainable independence off the street.

The City’s network of care includes partner organisations such as:

• U-Turn
• The Haven Night Shelter
• Oasis – Reach For Your Dreams
• Streetscapes
• MES

For more information on participating partner organisations, access the City of Cape Town Shelters Database.

Your donation can help people sleeping rough access immediate support such as a hot meal, a safe place to sleep, a warm shower, toiletries, and sanitary products. Donations can also contribute towards longer-term interventions, including counselling, rehabilitation, life-skills development, and skills training, supporting people on their journey towards sustainable independence off the street.

Vouchers are also available for purchase at some of the shelters in and around the City. Or you can support shelters by dropping off non-perishable food, toiletries, blankets and clothing, or cleaning materials.

Stride To Survive. Running for real change.

Each day, people living on the street cover an average of 21km in search of food, work, social services, and safe sleeping spaces. That’s 21km in the sun, rain, wind, and whatever else nature throws at them. And so was born the idea behind Stride To Survive: If survival demands 21km a day, what would happen if someone ran and walked the same distance – every day – with a purpose?

What begins as one man’s commitment to raise awareness for homelessness in the City gradually reveals something bigger: that rebuilding a life is not the result of one person’s generosity or an individual handout. It takes a community willing to invest beyond the moment.

This is how The City’s latest campaign to raise awareness for homelessness aims to change how we support people living on the street. It asks residents to give a hand-up, not a handout by donating to The City’s network of care, rather than giving once-off handouts on the street.

Follow our Strider's story here:

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