1 shower for a homeless person in South Africa

Access to safe and clean water and sanitation facilities has been a fundamental human right since 2010 (UN, 2010). This right is also enshrined in South Africa's constitution (Section 27 (1) (b)). The government is obligated to ensure that all citizens have this safe access; however, this only applies to about 80% of the population (WHO, UNICEF, 2022). At the same time, homelessness is a major issue in urban centers like Cape Town, where an estimated 14,000 people are affected by homelessness and unsafe living conditions (Hopkins et al., 2020). Life on the streets makes it difficult to access clean drinking water and basic facilities like safe public toilets or showers, posing one of the greatest challenges for the affected people. On the one hand, the lack of access can lead to direct and severe health risks, such as chronic diarrheal diseases. On the other hand, the lack of hygiene and the resulting stigma makes it difficult to find and maintain employment, further worsening their financial and social situation and preventing reintegration (Hopkins et al., 2020). By meeting basic human needs, the Nina Manzi project not only has a direct positive impact on the health of the affected individuals but also makes an important contribution to restoring the dignity of homeless people and thus enables the first step back into society.