- Community Development ·
Tackling Homelessness in South Africa
Our project assists people and communities with skills to overcome homelessness through rehabilitation and training. The aim of this project is to ensure nobody is homeless as part of the United Nations SDGs by 2030.
- South Africa
- hello@actionchange.org
Project Summary
Project Challenge
Project Solution
Impact
Reports
Project Summary
This project addresses the immediate issue of homelessness in Cape Town while being a sustainable project tackling the social issues that lead people to homelessness like poverty, inequality, quality education, and decent work. Our phased program has a track record of over 80% of homeless graduates remain sober and employed.
Project Challenge
Published figures show that over 14,000 people sleep rough on the streets of Cape Town, we know this number is much likely to be much higher and since COVID-19 resources show a huge spike in homelessness. To be sustainable we need to shift beyond short term solutions and support people on a pathway out of homelessness.
Project Solution
A phased program that starts from Step 1 providing basic needs and change-readiness, moving to step 2 that is our drug and alcohol rehabilitation stage and then finally moving to step 3 that is skills and employment training for residence.
Graduates from the programme leave the programme by looking for and securing an independent job.
Impact
Homelessness impacts both the individual and the community. By turning someone’s life around, you are able to assist their children, their family and friends, and the extended community being impacted by homelessness. We all thrive when people are given opportunities and skills to overcome homelessness and we already have seen great results that include graduates like Max, who went on to complete his LLB and today is completing his articles in a law firm…
Reports
Project Report | Mar 12, 2026
Step by Step we break the cycle
By Tyrone Bennett | CEO of Action Change
Hello Lovely Donors and Supporters,
Let’s get straight to the heart of it we aren’t just looking to give someone a bed for the night; we are in the business of changing lives for good! Since our update in November, the energy around our homeless rehab and support project in South Africa has been nothing short of inspiring.
What’s been happening on the ground Over the last three months, your donations have been working overtime. We’ve been focusing heavily on our holistic “rehab to reintegration” pipeline. It’s one thing to offer a meal, but it’s another thing entirely to provide the counseling, medical support, and skills training that actually breaks the cycle of homelessness.
We’ve seen some incredible breakthroughs recently with our guys getting stuck into vocational training. Whether it’s learning a trade or getting tech-savvy, seeing that spark of dignity return is exactly why we do this. We don’t want to just manage homelessness; we want to help people find their way back to a home, a job, and a future they’re proud of.
Where we are heading next Our big goal for the coming months is to expand our outreach and follow-up support. We’ve realized that the “aftercare” is just as important as the initial rehab. We’re putting more resources into mentoring our graduates as they transition back into society, making sure they have the community and the tools to stay on their feet for the long haul.
This project addresses the immediate issue of homelessness in Cape Town while being a sustainable project tackling the social issues that lead people to homelessness like poverty, inequality, quality education, and decent work. Our phased program has a track record of over 80% of homeless graduates remain sober and employed.
Published figures show that over 14,000 people sleep rough on the streets of Cape Town, we know this number is much likely to be much higher and since COVID-19 resources show a huge spike in homelessness. To be sustainable we need to shift beyond short term solutions and support people on a pathway out of homelessness.
A phased program that starts from Step 1 providing basic needs and change-readiness, moving to step 2 that is our drug and alcohol rehabilitation stage and then finally moving to step 3 that is skills and employment training for residence.
Graduates from the programme leave the programme by looking for and securing an independent job.
Homelessness impacts both the individual and the community. By turning someone’s life around, you are able to assist their children, their family and friends, and the extended community being impacted by homelessness. We all thrive when people are given opportunities and skills to overcome homelessness and we already have seen great results that include graduates like Max, who went on to complete his LLB and today is completing his articles in a law firm…
Project Report | Mar 12, 2026
Step by Step we break the cycle
By Tyrone Bennett | CEO of Action Change
Hello Lovely Donors and Supporters,
Let’s get straight to the heart of it we aren’t just looking to give someone a bed for the night; we are in the business of changing lives for good! Since our update in November, the energy around our homeless rehab and support project in South Africa has been nothing short of inspiring.
What’s been happening on the ground Over the last three months, your donations have been working overtime. We’ve been focusing heavily on our holistic “rehab to reintegration” pipeline. It’s one thing to offer a meal, but it’s another thing entirely to provide the counseling, medical support, and skills training that actually breaks the cycle of homelessness.
We’ve seen some incredible breakthroughs recently with our guys getting stuck into vocational training. Whether it’s learning a trade or getting tech-savvy, seeing that spark of dignity return is exactly why we do this. We don’t want to just manage homelessness; we want to help people find their way back to a home, a job, and a future they’re proud of.
Where we are heading next Our big goal for the coming months is to expand our outreach and follow-up support. We’ve realized that the “aftercare” is just as important as the initial rehab. We’re putting more resources into mentoring our graduates as they transition back into society, making sure they have the community and the tools to stay on their feet for the long haul.
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