In July 2002 Hope House opened its doors to its first three residents. Soon all available accommodation was occupied with a waiting list.
Hope House at 32 Peak Drive, Pinelands, Cape Town serves as a home of safety for adults with schizophrenia and offers supervised living and 24 hour care. There are two homes on the property. The old family home accommodates 4 residents and a substantial cottage accommodates a further 4 residents plus the house mother. The property has a lovely large peaceful garden. Appropriate staff successfully run Hope House assisted by numerous volunteers. Hope House is managed by Bonita Daniels who attends to the smooth running of the house and assists the full time house mother Sherezaan Hendricks in ensuring that the residents are well cared for and supported. The residents are encouraged to participate in the daily chores of running the house and tending to the garden. We remind the residents that this is their home, a place where they are safe and secure and where they can enjoy an independence not previously experience. It is a home in which the residents are able to spend their time constructively, building up their self-esteem by feeling worthwhile and finding companionship. Susan Miller, our skills therapist assists the residents with handcrafts and other forms of occupational therapy. Her work is very important as she keeps the residents motivated and busy. They love her innovative activities and look forward to her stimulating talks. Physical exercise is also important and the residents enjoy aerobic time generously donated by Alison Berrange. Virgin Active donated spinning bikes and cycling is done on most days. The home exudes a wonderful happy atmosphere and the residents fiercely support each other. There is a notable improvement in their stability since staying in Hope House. Prior to living in Hope House some of our residents had a history of cycles of relapse, hospitalization, stabilization, discharge and eventual relapse as the cycles continued. We believe this cycle has been broken through the stability and stress free environment Hope House offers coupled with maintenance of their medical and emotional needs. Non-compliance with prescribed medication requirements is not accepted nor is any form of substance abuse.
Recently we asked the residents what their feelings were about Hope House – here are a few replies
M – “I enjoy the company and being cared for “
L - “I feel very privileged and lucky to stay in Hope House and I want to say “Thank You”. I feel I have grown from the experience”
G – “Every day I say thank you Hope House”.
Please note that applicants should be 35 years of age or younger.
Click the link to download the APPLICATION FORM
The establishment of Hope House started as a dream in 2000. A group of concerned individuals met seeking to provide long term safe and assisted accommodation for adults challenged by the disease of schizophrenia.