Shelter Works: Keeping Children Safe at Home

Shelter Works exists to keep children safe by strengthening the families and communities they rely on every day. We work upstream through outreach, feeding and empowerment programs so that crises are prevented and children can grow up in safe, loving homes. Only when a child’s safety is at serious risk do we provide temporary shelter as a last resort, while we work toward safe, sustainable family‑based care.

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Preventing crisis before it starts

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Most of our work happens long before a child would ever need shelter. Through community‑based outreach, feeding programs and regular home visits, we stabilize families facing poverty, conflict and other stressors. Parenting education, human rights training and counseling give caregivers practical tools and support, reducing the risk of abuse, neglect and separation.

Key components include parenting education and counseling for caregivers and children, human rights and child protection trainings in communities, feeding and basic needs support that reduce household stress, and women’s empowerment and livelihoods training that strengthen family stability.

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Empowering women, protecting children

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Economic insecurity is one of the biggest drivers of family breakdown. Our women’s empowerment training equips caregivers with skills, confidence and income opportunities, helping them provide for their children and make safer choices. As women gain stability, the whole household becomes more resilient and children are far less likely to reach a point of crisis.

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Safe, temporary shelter when there’s no other option

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When a child’s immediate safety is at risk, Shelter Works offers a safe, nurturing place to stay for as short a time as possible. Our team provides holistic care nutrition, medical support, counseling and education while working closely with the government and families to develop a long‑term plan. From day one, our focus is on family reunification or alternative family‑based care that aligns with Kenya’s care reform vision. Our shelter is not the destination; it’s a bridge to a safe family environment.

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Reuniting families and walking with them

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We believe children belong in families. For every child in our shelter, we prioritize safe family tracing, preparation and reunification whenever possible. After reunification, we continue follow‑up visits, counseling and practical supports often connecting families back into our outreach, feeding and empowerment programs so they can stay together and thrive..