Place of Refuge 911

NPO assisting individuals without a home

Registration Number: 021566NPO

Tracing our roots back to 1993, Place of Refuge 911 was established as a Non-Profit Origination, offering a safe haven and shelter to those in need, regardless of race, religion or culture.

Founded by Dr. Sarel and Ina Smit as an institution that focused mainly on the safe harbour of woman and children, the facility now houses individuals in dire need, irrespective of their backgrounds and situations leading them to seek shelter.

The shelter is located in Newlands, Johannesburg and offers people a second chance in life. The shelter is run by Pastor Johan van der Merwe and volunteers dedicating their time to the shelter.

People coming to the shelter are interviewed before being given a place to stay. They are assisted further to build their skills and self-esteem so they can search for employment. People also have access to counselling and to our church on the premises, called Kadima.

The shelter is self-funded, depends solely on donations from other organisations and other residents who assist in providing for an average of 160 residents. This includes mothers with children, destitute single persons and families. Place of Refuge also collects donations and encourages all residents to contact them if they have any items they would like to donate.Other sources of income are a tuckshop, creche and charity store that is also open to the public.

Any donations of essential items are always welcome. We also accept donations for our creche in the form of educational toys, posters, stationery, puzzles and furniture.

Bafana le banyana - creche

Serves about 90 kiddies from all ethnic groups – 98% are from the black ethnic group – of the poor community that can`t afford prevailing high crèche fees.
The Department Education guides our teachers to be proficient with the R-grade. The crèche allows our single mothers to seek employment actively while knowing their children are taken care of. We also train female residents the finer skills of childcare.