House of Peace Farm

In 2016, Renier van der Westhuizen was on the verge of losing his house. A week before the repossession deadline, he made a promise to God: if his home was saved, he would open its doors to others in need. His home was saved. He kept his word. House of Peace — named both for its address (504 Bakenkloof Street) and for its founding vision — was born.

What started as a single act of personal faith has grown into a registered NPC housing 65 people at any given time: 27 men, 17 women, 14 boys, and 7 girls. The shelter is affiliated with 5:55, described on the website as a church-led initiative devoted to bringing hope, help, and healing to the community. It is one of the few shelters in the Pretoria area that serves mixed households — men, women, and children together — as whole families and individuals in crisis, rather than separating them by gender.

Reviews of House of Peace from those who have been there are striking in their warmth. One reviewer describes it as offering "Jesus Christ, a roof over their heads, warm showers with clean toilet facilities, food in their tummies and a job on a regular basis" — and calls it "heaven on earth compared to living on the street." Another former resident writes: "Thank you for teaching me to persevere in all things you do, and always do everything to the best of your ability."

What They Offer Individuals and Families in Crisis

Emergency Shelter — Men, Women, Boys, and Girls House of Peace is one of the few facilities in Pretoria that accommodates both male and female adults and children in a shared, family-style environment — responding to the reality that homelessness affects whole households, not just individuals. Current capacity: 65 residents.

Food, Clothing, and Bedding Every resident receives regular meals, clothing, and bedding — the foundational dignities without which recovery is impossible.

Warm Showers and Ablution Facilities Clean toilet and shower facilities restore physical hygiene and the psychological sense of dignity that homelessness strips away.

Employment Opportunities House of Peace facilitates access to employment for residents — providing income and the sense of purpose that comes with contributing work.

Emotional and Spiritual Healing The shelter's Christian foundation is expressed not through exclusion but through genuine pastoral care — addressing the emotional and spiritual wounds that underlie addiction, poverty, and homelessness alongside practical support.

Addiction and Substance Abuse Recovery Support For residents struggling with drug and alcohol addiction — one of the primary drivers of homelessness in Pretoria — House of Peace provides structured support toward recovery.

5:55 Church-Led Community Programme The 5:55 initiative connected to House of Peace extends community outreach, spiritual support, and networks of care beyond the shelter walls — building a wider community of transformation in Pretoria North.

House of Peace 504: 504 Bakenkloof Street, Wolmer, Pretoria North. Phone: 067 848 5780. Facebook: Houseofpeace504. Listed on Shelters.org.za Gauteng directory.