Role players and beneficiaries present at the official launch of the Paarl Overnight Shelter on Tuesday, July 8.
Image: Supplied
Drakenstein Municipality, in partnership with the faith-based outreach initiative Christian Revival Church (CRC) Cares Paarl and other community stakeholders, officially launched the Paarl overnight shelter on Tuesday, July 8.
According to the municipality, the shelter was opened in a bid to restore dignity and offer real solutions to homelessness in the areas it serves.
The municipality said in a statement: “The opening symbolises the municipality’s efforts to create a safer, more inclusive community, especially for its most vulnerable residents.”
The Paarl overnight shelter will initially accommodate 26 homeless individuals every night.
Furthermore, the facility will provide essential services, including a warm meal, clean bedding, and access to basic support - offering a dignified and caring environment for those in need.
Speaking at the opening, Gert Combrink, deputy executive Mayor of Drakenstein municipality, said: “This shelter is more than just a building - it is a beacon of hope. While addressing homelessness may not fall within our core mandate as a municipality, we are proud to have built the necessary infrastructure to meet this pressing need. We are especially grateful to have compassionate partners such as CRC Cares, who have willingly taken hands with us to serve our community.”
CRC Cares will manage the shelter’s daily operations.
Future phases of the project will focus on expanding capacity and introducing developmental programmes aimed at helping individuals transition off the streets and into stable, productive lives.
Currently, Drakenstein Municipality has two established night shelters, the Paarl Night Shelter and the Wellington Night Shelter, both of which are undergoing revitalisation as part of a broader municipal strategy. There is a third shelter, The Haven Night Shelter in Paarl, which is funded by the Western Cape Government.
In his 2025/26 Budget Speech delivered in May this year, Councillor Stephen Korabie, executive mayor of the municipality, said funding had been allocated for upgrades to the Paarl and Wellington night shelters as well as the expansion of the Municipality’s Soup Kitchen Programme, including new kitchens in under-resourced wards.
“These efforts represent more than infrastructure,” the executive mayor noted in his speech. “They symbolise our shared values of care, solidarity, and human dignity.”
The overnight shelter has been named House Bethany.
CRC Cares Paarl said about this opening: “House Bethany will be a beacon of hope, empowering, restoring, and transforming lives. Jesus has called us to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, and shelter the homeless. This is more than a dream come true; it is the vision of God brought to life. We are humbled to witness His hand at work.”
CRC Cares Paarl appealed to the public for any donations to help those housed at the shelter, especially in the early phases of the project. Donations of warm clothing, shoes, toiletries, blankets, food, as well as monetary donations are welcome. Donations will be tax deductible with CRC Cares able to provide donors with tax certificates. To donate, contact Madeleine Grobler of CRC Cares Paarl at 084 582 3348.
Alderman Gert Combrink, Deputy Executive Mayor of Drakenstein Municipality, delivers the keynote address at the opening of the Paarl Overnight Shelter.
Image: Supplied