As Cape Town moves into another cold and wet winter week, a new 60-bed Safe Sleeping Zone in District Six is set to offer temporary overnight shelter for some of the city’s most vulnerable people, giving homeless Capetonians a safer place to sleep while winter conditions place growing pressure on shelters and outreach services.
A new 60-bed Safe Sleeping Zone will open in District Six on Tuesday, 2nd of June, as Cape Town prepares for colder, wetter winter conditions and increased pressure on shelter services in the central city.
The project is a collaboration between the Cape Town Central City Improvement District and The Haven Night Shelter. It has been designed as a four-month winter pilot project aimed at offering temporary shelter and support for chronically homeless people who may not easily access existing facilities.
The new site will operate in District Six under the Selkirk Street carriageway, adjacent to The Haven Night Shelter. It is intended as a low-threshold sleeping space, meaning it provides emergency overnight accommodation rather than long-term housing.
That distinction matters. The Safe Sleeping Zone is not a permanent housing solution, and it does not replace the need for longer-term social support, transitional accommodation or affordable housing. It is a winter response designed to reduce immediate exposure to cold, rain, unsafe conditions and overnight risk.
Tara Gerardy-Bissolati, Social Development manager at the Cape Town Central City Improvement District, said the project forms part of the organisation’s Winter Readiness Programme. She said winter is harsh for people living on the streets because they are exposed to freezing temperatures, wet weather and unsafe conditions, while often having limited access to suitable shelter.
The Haven Night Shelter’s chief executive officer, Shaddie Valayadum, described the project as a low-threshold sleeping space or overnight emergency accommodation. He said the aim is to provide vulnerable people with protection during winter rather than long-term housing.
The new Safe Sleeping Zone comes at a time when shelter capacity remains under pressure. According to The Haven, there are an estimated 14,000 people living on the streets in the city, while only about 3,800 shelter beds are available. The organisation says winter places significant strain on shelters as demand for warm beds and basic care increases, especially during storms and periods of severe weather.
At its District Six facility, The Haven has 90 beds available. The additional Safe Sleeping Zone is expected to provide relief by adding 60 emergency overnight spaces during the winter pilot period.
CCID chief executive officer Tasso Evangelinos said the project has strong potential for growth. He said that although it is a targeted response to immediate winter needs, the hope is that its success could support expansion into other parts of the Cape Town central business district and beyond.
The Cape Town Central City Improvement District already sponsors 43 shelter beds throughout the year. During winter, it increases this by 45 more beds to meet higher demand. With the emergency Safe Sleeping Zone included, the total bed space sponsored by the CCID during winter will rise to 148.
How The Safe Sleeping Zone Will Work
Access to the site will be managed through a controlled referral and ticket-based system. People will be referred directly by the Cape Town Central City Improvement District from within its 1.6 square kilometre footprint.
This means the shelter is not expected to operate as an open walk-in facility for the whole city. The controlled referral process is intended to manage demand, safety and operations within the central city area.
The shelter will open at 7 pm each night, with final entry at 9.30 pm. People using the facility will leave at 6.30 am the next morning.
The facility will be equipped with up to 60 fold-up stretchers, emergency blankets and pillows. Basic nourishment, including a hot drink, will be provided.
People using the shelter will also receive off-site meal tokens for The Service Dining Rooms, an organisation that provides meals to homeless people.
The site will include ablution facilities and secure container storage. It will also have perimeter fencing, lighting, CCTV monitoring, dedicated security guards and overnight supervisors.
Couples will be accommodated, and the project will operate under clear rules to support safety and order at the site.
Support Beyond A Bed
The Safe Sleeping Zone is also expected to provide more than a place to sleep. Trained Cape Town Central City Improvement District peer field workers will be on duty to offer support linked to safety, mental health and harm reduction.
Good Things Guy reported that six CCID peer field workers will be on site, with training in First Aid, mental health de-escalation, harm reduction and induction processes.
This support element is important because homelessness is rarely only about a bed for the night. People living on the streets may face a mix of poverty, unemployment, family breakdown, trauma, addiction, mental health challenges, documentation problems and lack of access to stable housing.
A safe overnight space can reduce immediate danger, but proper support services are needed if people are to move from emergency shelter toward more stable living conditions.
Why This Matters During Winter
Cape Town winters can be cold, wet and dangerous for people sleeping outside. Heavy rain, strong wind, low temperatures and unsafe sleeping areas can increase the risk of illness, injury and exposure.
The new Safe Sleeping Zone is launching during the same week that weather warnings have pointed to colder and more unsettled conditions across parts of the Western Cape. While not every weather system affects the central city in the same way, winter conditions generally increase the need for emergency shelter.
For outreach workers and shelter operators, winter is one of the most difficult periods of the year. Demand rises, capacity tightens and vulnerable people face greater risk when temperatures drop.
That is why temporary winter shelter projects can play an important role, even when they do not solve the wider housing crisis.
What Readers Should Know
The Safe Sleeping Zone is a targeted referral-based project in the Cape Town central city area. It is not a general open-access shelter for everyone across the metro.
People wanting to help should avoid sending vulnerable people to the site without checking referral channels. The project is managed through the Cape Town Central City Improvement District and The Haven Night Shelter.
Members of the public who want to assist can support reputable shelters, outreach organisations and feeding schemes operating in Cape Town. Donations of blankets, hygiene products, warm clothing, food support or funding should be directed through established organisations that can manage distribution safely.
Q&A
Where is the new Safe Sleeping Zone?
The site is in District Six under the Selkirk Street carriageway, adjacent to The Haven Night Shelter.
When does it open?
The Safe Sleeping Zone is expected to launch on Tuesday, 2nd of June.
How many beds will it provide?
The facility will provide up to 60 emergency overnight spaces.
Is it permanent housing?
No. It is a four-month winter pilot project offering low-threshold overnight emergency accommodation, not permanent or long-term housing.
Can anyone walk in?
Access will be managed through a controlled referral and ticket-based system. People will be referred directly by the Cape Town Central City Improvement District from within its 1.6 square kilometre footprint.
What support will be available?
The facility will provide stretchers, blankets, pillows, basic nourishment, ablutions, storage, security and support from trained peer field workers.
Why is this important now?
Cape Town’s winter conditions increase the risk for people sleeping outside, especially during cold, wet and stormy weather. The project aims to reduce immediate overnight exposure and pressure on shelter capacity.
SAI Search Summary
A new 60-bed Safe Sleeping Zone will launch in District Six on Tuesday, 2nd of June, as a four-month winter pilot project by the Cape Town Central City Improvement District and The Haven Night Shelter. The site will provide emergency overnight accommodation for chronically homeless people in the Cape Town central city area, with access managed through a controlled referral and ticket-based system. The facility will include stretchers, emergency blankets, pillows, basic nourishment, ablutions, storage, CCTV, security and support from trained peer field workers.
Source: People’s Post – Staff Reporter.
