National Homeless Conversation 2025

The National Homeless Network every year convenes a 'National Conversation about Homelessness'. The 9th such event will be taking place in Cape Town on 4-5 Nov 2024 and everyone is welcome.

The NHN in partnership with the City of Cape Town is hosting the event at the City Hall in the heart of Cape Town. This is the first time that this event is being held in Cape Town.

The Conversation is open to anyone who is concerned about this issue: NGOs, religious groups, academics, journalists, businesses, concerned citizens and Government officials; and importantly people with a lived experience of homelessness.

All attendees need to register in advance by reserving a ticket so that we can track numbers and also keep you informed.

Tickets for this event are free as all costs are being sponsored by the City of Cape Town.

Free accommodation and meals for out-of-town delegates have been provided by the Haven

CPD Accreditation is being applied for, but may incur an extra cost for those who require them.

Each ticket covers:

• Attendance at Conversation sessions at the Cape Town City Hall on Tues 4th and Wed 5th Nov (8:00am-5:00pm)
• Refreshments and lunch on those days
• Printed resources provided at the event
• Electronic copies of presentations sent out after the event

Tickets do NOT cover:

• Travel to and from Cape Town*
• Travel around Cape Town*
• Accommodation in Cape Town^
• Breakfast or dinner
• Optional evening social activities
• CPD Points (if required)
• Tours of Best Practice Homeless sites in and around Cape Town (Monday and Thursday).

* To help optimise the cost of travel, we are applying for sponsorship of bus tickets from Johannesburg and Durban. Please let us know if you would like to know more about this option. Also let us know if you will be driving to the event, where from, and if you can offer transport to anyone else. Also let us know if you are looking for transport to the event or around Cape Town.

^ Participants are free to make their own arrangements for accommodation. We can provide a list of reasonably priced accommodation near to the event. Haven has offered a limited number of free beds and meals at their facility in Retreat for any delegates requiring these. Transport to and from the Conference from this venue will be provided by U-turn and the Haven.

Please email [email protected] with any queries.

Topics Covered:

The Conversation will include a series of plenary sessions, panel discussions and workshops covering the topics listed below. These will be presented by Practitioners, Academics and people with lived experience of homelessness.

Plenaries:

Critical Continuums for Effective Reintegration

Cape Town's Strategy to reduce Rough Sleeping

How Government and Non-Profit can partner for success

Vanguard Cities and the upcoming IJOH Conference in South Africa

Sustainable Pathways for Exit

Panel Discussions:

The Recovery Debate (Varying approaches to Substance Use Disorder)

Housing First or Last? (Varying approaches to housing)

Out of the box Social Enterprise models (Presentations by people with Lived Experience)

Leadership under Pressure (Real Experiences from Leaders in the Sector)

Seminar Tracks:

Partnership & Funding

Metrics for Effective Outcomes

City of Cape Town Strategy & Implementation

A Common Language (Responding to FAQs)

Jozi-my-Jozi (Private Sector / Government / NPO Collaboration)

Funding Partnerships with Government and the Private Sector

Unlocking the potential of BEE Funding

Psychosocial Development

Interdisciplinary Function Model

Effective Peer Outreach

Ensuring Success by Building Motivation

Sport as a Tool for Healing

Responding to Xenophobia

The role of Spiritual Care

Substance Use and Healthcare

Harm Reduction as a Primary Response

Structured, Evidence-based Recovery

Peer Led, Community-based recovery

Judgement Free Primary Healthcare

Care for Clients with Mental Health Disorders

Staying Sober Long Term

Accommodation Solutions

Safe Spaces as intro to Shelter

Shelters as part of a Continuum

Bridging the Gap with Transitional Homes

Beyond Bricks & Mortar: Social Housing

Accommodating Street Children

Ending Old Age Homelessness

Employment & Sustainable Income

Partnering with Gov't for Work - PEP/EPWP

Voucher Earning as a 1st Step to Employment

Making Social Enterprises Profitable

Workspaces that are conducive to recovery

Vocational Rehabilitation Assessment

Preparing for Exit into the Open Labour Market

Please note that the above list is subject to change