Elim Night Shelter

BACKGROUND
Elim is a Christian based centre catering for the homeless and destitute and was officially opened on the 2nd September 1997. It started on a purely voluntary basis with a small group of committed Christian volunteers working in the streets of Goodwood to create a viable base for homeless people. After a few years where provision was intermittent, funding was achieved and the building in 47 3rd Ave Elsies River, where Elim is housed today was acquired from the City of Cape Town with a 15 year lease. Although registered as a transient shelter with the Department of Social Development experience has shown that where one opens the doors to the homeless and destitute one is in effect invariably making a lasting impact on their lives. Elim’s mission is to take the individuals that walk through their gates through a process of assessment and rehabilitation, with the ultimate goal of successful re-integration into society . “We care for the bodies, minds and spirits of our clients and do not want to be viewed only as a bed and breakfast facility” says, Louis De Jager chairman of Elim.
The aim is also to promote community awareness of the social problems giving rise to and associated with vagrancy.
Today, Elim is able to cater for a capacity to 70 residents including women and men as well as significantly increase the services offered to these people walking in off the street daily. They offer three meals every day, with longer opening hours available to anybody 7 days a week. Crucially, Elim has on-site resident management which offers every resident access to a resident councilor and resettlement social worker.
The ethos and culture of the organisation is influenced by a number of external factors operating at different levels within the immediate physical environment. Elim is located in an industrial area in Elsie’s River. The area is plagued by many socio-economic challenges which include pervasive gangsterism, drugs and alcohol abuse, poor economic conditions, a lack of basic and social services as well as a high level of unemployment. Moreover Elim also has influences from the City of Cape Town and the Western Cape Government. Within the Managerial District of Goodwood and surrounding areas (including Elsie’s River), Elim’s target market (the “client”) consists of destitute and homeless persons.