Johannesburg, South Africa’s largest city and economic hub, has a significant homelessness challenge driven by various socio-economic factors. High unemployment rates, rapid urbanisation, and income inequality have contributed to a growing number of people living on the streets. Many homeless individuals migrate to Johannesburg in search of better opportunities but struggle with the high cost of living and limited access to affordable housing.

The city’s homeless population is diverse, including unemployed youth, displaced families, and individuals battling substance abuse or mental health issues. Informal settlements, abandoned buildings, and makeshift shelters in parks and under bridges serve as temporary homes for many.

With the rising number of people experiencing homelessness in Johannesburg, the need for comprehensive and dignified solutions has never been greater. In collaboration with many partners operating in the city, the CoJ (City of Johannesburg), MES (Mould Empower and Serve), U-turn and JHN (Johannesburg Homeless Network) to name a few, we are working to reopen closed shelters, renovate impaired shelters and provide creative solutions towards supplying essential relief for those in need.

Drop in Shelters

We believe a significant step in addressing the issue of homelessness is to open and improve shelters run by NGOs in key locations where homelessness is most prevalent. Shelters serve as an entry point for individuals looking to find a way out of homelessness. They offer a safe place to sleep at night, access to social services, meals, ablutions and open pathways to long-term support.

We are currently working on renovating 3 shelters owned and operated by MES – Lufononi House, Ekhaya Shelter and eKuthuleni Center.

Additionally, we are looking at utilizing containerized solutions in areas that are vacant throughout the city. We believe this will offer a rapid and lasting impact towards increasing service centres that can cater to homeless individuals.

We believe this strategy will help keep people off the streets, reduce vulnerability, and foster a safer, more inclusive city for all.

Point in Time Count 

In collaboration with our inner-city partners, we are planning and coordinating a Point in Time Count of homeless individuals in the City of Johannesburg.

This count will serve as the establishment of our baseline understanding towards the extent of homelessness in our city. Having a reliable and regularly updated estimate of the number of people experiencing homelessness is essential to ascertain the level of services required and whether the service provision is working.

Internationally, there are two ways that are used to estimate the number of people who are homeless. One is a point-in-time count – a census to count the number of people found sleeping in an area. The other is counting the number of people accessing services such as a soup kitchen, that report they are homeless. Both methods are important to triangulate and understand the true number of homeless people. This is because counting the number of people who are homeless is hard. Having no fixed abode, homeless people move around a lot. At night, whilst some are visibly sleeping in shop doorways or on grass verges, others hide themselves away in bushes, alleyways and even tucked into storm drains.

The count is planned to take place mid-May and will cover a significant amount of the inner city, gateways and residential areas throughout Johannesburg.

Database and Dashboard

In line with the Point in Time Count, we are in the process of developing a Homeless Dashboard and Data Base. The Dashboard/Database will process the information collected from the count and service centres to provide valuable insights as to the number and density of homeless individuals living in Johannesburg. It will also utilize information gathered on individuals to provide a deeper understanding of the underlying issues causing homelessness.

Our aim is to set up a robust citywide database that tracks homeless individuals at the client level. Once developed, we intend to publicly display the data to provide accountability on progress via the online dashboard.

We will use the database to continually monitor, evaluate & improve the effectiveness of our Homeless strategies.

Responsible giving

Every year, an estimated R285 million is given directly to homeless individuals in an act of compassionate giving. While well-intended, this form of giving often has unintended consequences—it can inadvertently sustain homelessness rather than alleviate it. Many recipients use these funds to support substance dependencies, trapping them in a cycle that prevents long-term recovery and reintegration into society.

Compassionate giving stems from a desire to help, but when money is handed directly to homeless individuals, it may do more harm than good. Responsible giving, on the other hand, ensures that generosity truly contributes to breaking the cycle of homelessness. Instead of providing temporary relief, responsible giving channels resources toward structured support systems that help individuals access essential services, rehabilitation, and long-term opportunities for reintegration.

To transform how we support homeless individuals, we are implementing a voucher system in collaboration with U-Turn and Zlto. This initiative ensures that funds given to homeless beneficiaries are used exclusively for their essential needs, rather than being misdirected toward substance abuse.

Through this system, donors can provide physical or digital vouchers that homeless individuals can redeem for:

• Meals
• Shelter for the night
• Access to ablution facilities
• Essential goods and services

This approach maintains the spirit of generosity while ensuring that contributions lead to meaningful, long-term impact.

By shifting from compassionate to responsible giving, we can work together to create real pathways out of homelessness, rather than perpetuating the challenges that keep individuals trapped in it.