In providing a safe, clean and healthy living environment with resources for training and development, the project wants to create a basis the homeless can use as a stepping stone between being homeless and the point of renting or owning their own accommodation.

Every resident is accommodated in a room and receives a bed, mattress, trunk and locker.

A communal kitchen area with gas stoves, fridges and a washing-up area enables the residents to cook meals regularly.

24-Hour security ensures the safety of the residents. Clothes are available from the clothing store and the Othandweni mobile clinic visits Ekuthuleni once a week to render basic medical care to the residents of Ekuthuleni.

The Crèche looks after the children while their parents work or look for work. The daily programme focuses on the development of the children’s skills and potential to prepare them for school readiness. Breakfast and lunch are served daily. Children who are sick or have any other ailments are referred to the Othandweni sickbay or mobile clinic.

A training centre at Ekuthuleni provides training for the residents of the house to encourage personal growth and to develop employment and entrepreneurial skills. Statistics of the training are included in the training programme section.

Ekuthuleni is planning a follow-up centre where people will have access to a telephone and fax machine for the purpose of finding employment. After finding employment, a follow-up process starts to see that the person is fully integrated into the workplace.

The convenience store, in partnership with Othandweni, will also form part of this centre.

Ekuthuleni Transitional House, with Othandweni, received the Impumelelo Award from government as one of 15 best projects in South Africa, which is helping to alleviate poverty. The project has grown tremendously since it opened in October 1999, and we hope it will be even more succesful in the years to come.