+27 81 582 2116
+27 68 701 6168
15-Year Flagship Project
Integrated Night Shelter and GBV Crisis Centre
A City-Level Response to Homelessness and Gender-Based Violence
For 15 years, Healing Hands Community Project has worked alongside the most vulnerable people in Nelson Mandela Bay, providing emergency shelter, daily meals, healthcare support, skills development, and crisis intervention.
Through this work, we have learned what fragmented support looks like, and what happens when services are not connected. We have seen that safety, recovery, and long-term stability are strongest when shelter, protection, healthcare, and reintegration are delivered together.
As we mark our 15-year milestone, these lessons are shaping our next chapter. We are developing an Integrated Night Shelter and Gender-Based Violence Crisis Centre, a professionally managed facility that brings together the full range of our experience under one coordinated model.
This flagship initiative integrates the services we have delivered for years and represents our evolution from emergency response to structured, city-aligned infrastructure. It is designed to serve Nelson Mandela Bay with greater coordination, accountability, and impact over the next 15 years.
This is not just a shelter. It is the next phase of community care, built on experience and focused on the future.
Why This Project Matters Now
Nelson Mandela Bay is facing growing pressure on its social support systems, with homelessness and gender-based violence increasing in both visibility and severity.
Rising Visible Homelessness
More people are sleeping rough each night without access to safe overnight accommodation. Existing facilities are overstretched, leaving many individuals exposed to harm.
At present, our services are limited to providing meals and basic support, while people in need of shelter are often turned away due to space constraints.
Limited Safe Shelter Capacity
There are significant gaps in emergency shelter, particularly for women and children. These gaps leave vulnerable individuals without immediate protection when it is needed most.
Gender-Based Violence in Moments of Crisis
Survivors of gender-based violence frequently have nowhere safe to go during emergencies.
In a single recent month, Healing Hands received five urgent GBV referrals. Due to limited capacity, we were able to accommodate only one survivor safely.
Pressure on Municipal and Emergency Services
Without structured, dedicated facilities, vulnerable individuals remain exposed, and municipal and emergency services carry an increasing burden of crisis response.
A Necessary and Timely Response
This project responds directly to these realities. By integrating shelter, protection, and recovery pathways in one coordinated facility, it strengthens safety, reduces system strain, and creates a dignified, effective response to urgent community needs.
Our Solution: An Integrated Care Facility
The Integrated Night Shelter and GBV Crisis Centre brings together three critical components under one managed facility:
Component 1: Night Homeless Shelter (100 beds)
A safe, supervised overnight shelter for individuals experiencing homelessness.
Key Features:
- Secure overnight accommodation with controlled access
- Structured intake and exit processes
- Hygiene facilities, meals, and basic essentials
- 24-hour security and CCTV monitoring
- Referral pathways to health, social services, and reintegration programs
Purpose:
Provide immediate safety at night while reducing public vulnerability and improving community safety.
Component 2: Gender-Based Violence Crisis Centre
A dedicated, confidential wing for women and children escaping domestic and gender-based violence.
Key Features:
- Emergency protection and temporary accommodation
- Trauma-informed intake and support
- 72-hour stabilization window
- Referrals to healthcare, legal services, and South African Police Services
- Structured safety planning and follow-up
Purpose:
Protect survivors at their most critical moment and support recovery toward independence.
Component 3: Reintegration and Recovery Pathways
Beyond emergency response, the facility connects individuals to longer-term solutions.
Services Include:
- Case management and individualized recovery plans
- Access to skills development and employment support
- Coordination with existing community and government services
- Connect and reunite with families and follow-up support to prevent repeat homelessness
Purpose:
Move individuals from crisis to stability and reduce repeat cycles of homelessness and violence exposure. And not turn the shelter into a permanent residency for the homeless
Built on 15 Years of Proven Experience
Healing Hands Community Project has operated in Nelson Mandela Bay since 2010. Our track record includes:
✓ Shelter and food security services
✓ Healthcare and HIV support programs
✓ Domestic violence response and counselling
✓ Youth development and skills training
✓ Disaster and crisis response coordination
This flagship project builds on existing programs, partnerships, and governance systems. It reflects our evolution from emergency response to sustainable, city-aligned infrastructure.
A Collaborative City Partnership
This project is designed to work with, not alongside, existing systems.
We are actively seeking collaboration with:
- Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality
- Department of Social Development
- Mandela Bay Development Agency
- South Africa Police Services and law enforcement agencies
- Health services and hospitals
- Corporate and institutional partners
- Property owners and technical specialists
The goal: A shared solution that strengthens public safety, social stability, and long-term outcomes for our city.
Project Scope and Compliance
Facility Capacity: 100 beds
Components:
- Night shelter wing (mixed accommodation with gender separation)
- Dedicated GBV crisis wing (confidential, secure)
- Medical assessment room
- Counselling and case management offices
- Kitchen and dining facilities
- Hygiene block (showers, laundry)
- Security station with CCTV
- Skills training and activity spaces
How You Can Be Part of This Initiative
We invite partners to engage at multiple levels:
Corporate and Institutional Partners
Support capital setup, operational costs, or sponsor specific components of the project.
Partnership Opportunities:
- Facility naming rights
- Component sponsorship (GBV Wing, Skills Centre, Medical Room)
- Multi-year operational funding
- In-kind contributions (building materials, equipment, professional services)
Benefits:
- Section 18A tax deductions
- CSR alignment
- B-BBEE recognition
- Measurable social impact reporting
- Branded partnership recognition
Individual and Community Supporters
Contribute toward building safer nights and stronger pathways for Nelson Mandela Bay’s most vulnerable.
Ways to Give:
- Sponsor a Bed: R15,000 per year
- One-Time Donation: Any amount toward capital or operational costs
- Monthly Giving: Ongoing support for program sustainability
Next Step: Support the 15-Year Flagship Campaign.
Looking Ahead: Building the Next 15 Years
This integrated shelter and crisis centre represents the next chapter of Healing Hands Community Project.
Our first 15 years focused on response and relief.
The next 15 years focus on infrastructure, systems, and long-term impact.
Together, we can create:
- Safer nights for homeless individuals
- Protected spaces for GBV survivors
- Clear pathways from crisis to independence
- A stronger, more resilient Nelson Mandela Bay
Partner With This Project Contact Us Now
