Help Haven Night Shelter restore dignity for unhoused individuals across the City

CapeTalk's Lester Kiewit speaks to Shadrick Valayadum, Haven Night Shelter’s CEO.

Listen below:

The Dignity Project, initiated by the Haven Night Shelter in partnership with the Cape Town Central City Improvement District (CCID), is a quarterly outreach event that supports homeless individuals in Cape Town. The project provides:

• haircuts and shaves,

• breakfasts and hot lunches,

• toiletries,

• access to social services.

Its aim is to restore dignity and offer essential support to unhoused and vulnerable people in the city.

Valayadum explains that the Dignity Project came about in December 2024 when "everyone went on holiday" but the organisation realised that "poverty and homelessness doesn't go on holiday".

"We shower them with gifts and shower them literally and give them haircuts, etc... at the Haven, we generally wait for people to come in for support but we thought it was important that we go to the people on the street and invite them in and tell them this is what we offer and will continue to offer if you come in.... it was phenomenal... the attendance, the result was absolutely brilliant."

- Shadrick Valayadum, CEO - Haven Night Shelter

To help future Dignity Projects at the Haven Night Shelter, these donations are needed:

• clothing,
• blankets,
• toiletries,
• non-perishable foods.

Monetary donations and buying a bed for someone in need for one or a few nights are also options. 

Visit Haven Night Shelter's website for more information.

Scroll up to the audio player listen to the full conversation.