The Ark - City of Refuge

The Ark City of Refuge is a registered non-profit organisation founded in 1992 in Cape Town. Based in Faure on the outskirts of the city, the Ark is a large, self-contained residential community that has supported over 65,000 people in its more than 30 years of operation. They provide shelter, food, counselling, education, and rehabilitation for homeless, destitute, abused, and vulnerable women, children, and men — all on one campus.

The Ark is a Christ-centred organisation. Spiritual faith is central to how they operate. People of all faiths are welcomed and will not be turned away — but it is important for survivors to know that faith-based programmes and Christian teaching form part of the daily life of the community.

For survivors of abuse who need not just a roof, but a complete environment of safety, structure, and rebuilding, the Ark offers something few organisations can: a full residential community where every need is attended to under one roof.

What They Offer Survivors

Residential Shelter for Women and Children (The Mommies Section) The Ark has a dedicated women and children's section that can accommodate approximately 60–70 women and 100–120 children at any time. This section specifically serves abused women and their children, homeless and destitute women, single mothers, refugee women with permits, and women dealing with addiction alongside their children. The men's and women's sections are separate.

One-on-One Counselling and Support Groups Individual counselling and group support are integral to the Ark's approach. Counsellors work with women to help them heal from abuse, addiction, and trauma, and to rebuild a sense of self and direction. Support groups provide community and solidarity among residents who share similar experiences.

Life Skills Programme A structured life skills programme runs throughout a resident's stay — building confidence, practical abilities, decision-making, and the personal tools needed to reintegrate into society as a whole, functioning person.

Education for Children: LAMBS Educare and The Ark Christian School Children staying at the Ark attend the on-site LAMBS Educare Centre and The Ark Christian School (Grades R–9), ensuring their education continues uninterrupted and they are kept safe, engaged, and supported while their parent or caregiver heals.

Youth Programmes and Sports Young people at the Ark are included in a vibrant youth development programme and sports department — providing structure, mentorship, and a sense of belonging.

Work Therapy and Skills Workshops Practical workshops for training and income generation help residents build skills and develop a sense of purpose and productivity during their stay.

Rehabilitation for Substance Abuse The Ark provides rehabilitation support for women dealing with drug and alcohol dependency — recognising that many survivors of abuse and homelessness are also battling addiction.

Practical Assistance The Ark assists residents with hospital transport across the Cape Peninsula, applications for ID documents, grants, and pension documentation — navigating the systems that are often most difficult to access when you are in crisis.

Community Feeding and Support Beyond its residential programmes, the Ark prepares approximately 3,000 meals daily and provides food, clothing, and household items to surrounding crèches, churches, and soup kitchens in the community.

The Ark is open 24/7. If you need shelter, call 021 843 3927 or arrive at 5 Old Faure Road, Faure. Please note: The Ark is a faith-based environment. Women and men are housed in separate facilities on the same campus.