Impact Achieved In Last 30 Years

Rapid Infrastructure Mapping & Households Surveys in Slum

Home Toilets Facilitated

Individuals Rehabilitated Through Housing

Digital Locational Addresses

Individuals Impacted - Directly & Indirectly

Thoughts From Our Founder Pratima Joshi

As we celebrate 30 incredible years of Shelter Associates (SA), my heart is filled with immense gratitude and pride. What began as a simple idea – how the skills of an architect can be used to improve the lives of the urban poor – has grown into a movement that has touched countless lives and created meaningful & sustainable change that has impacted multiple generations.

Over the past three decades, we have navigated challenges and celebrated remarkable successes, often choosing to walk the path less traveled. Our journey has been defined by taking bold risks and achieving pioneering milestones. As the first non-profit to leverage GIS technology for mapping slums, we revolutionized data-driven urban planning. We empowered slum households with Digital Addresses using Google Plus codes and are institutionalizing slum data for Urban Local Bodies, setting new benchmarks in inclusive governance. With our innovative One Home One Toilet concept, we transformed the sanitation landscape, and through our unique approach to slum redevelopment, we successfully rehabilitated several communities, creating a lasting impact.

This milestone is not just a celebration of the years gone by but a testament to the collective power of passion & dedication of my team and SA’s philosophy of collaboration with the communities that we serve. It is a reminder of what we can achieve when we come together with a shared vision for a better world.

As I reflect on three decades of impact, I also look forward to the future with renewed determination. Our mission is far from over. We look forward to expanding to more states in India and in addition to implementation, also extend our operating model and train other NGOs. Here’s to the next chapter of hope, growth, and change! Together, we will continue to build a brighter future for all.

Our Journey In The Words Of Our Beneficiaries, Partners And Donors

Join us as we reflect on 30 incredible years of transforming the lives of urban poor communities through innovative approaches in housing, sanitation, and data-driven solutions.

Highlights Of Our 30 Years Journey

The past 30 years of Shelter Associates have been defined by groundbreaking initiatives and transformative achievements.

Slide 1

Pioneering Work Done By Us

GIS Mapping of Slums
Recognizing the gap between existing slum data and ground realities read more

Beneficiary Led Housing For Slum Redevelopment
We implemented a unique approach to slum redevelopment read more

Data System For Urban Local Bodies
In addition to co-creating data in collaboration with read more

Collaborative Model For Home Toilets In Slums
Our three-pronged One Home One Toilet (OHOT) model read more

1st City Wide Housing Project In Sangli
As consultants for the Integrated Housing and Slum Development Programme read more

Slide 2

Thought Leadership

OHOT Tool Kit
OHOT Tool KitOur free and open source OHOT Toolkit read more

Digital Addressing
We have successfully delivered Digital Addresses read more

Policy Papers
We have published policy papers as follows read more

UCAN Founding Member
As a founding member of U-CAN read more

Slide 1

Partnerships For Growth

Dasra
We were honored to be selected for the Dasra read more

Google
We leverage Google Earth Pro to map slums with precision read more

Chintoo Gudiya Foundation
The foundation of our data practice was established read more

Bank of America and HT Parekh Foundation
Our partnership with Bank of America enabled us to expand read more

UNICEF
UNICEF provided invaluable support during the COVID-19 pandemic read more

Sun Vacuum Formers Private Ltd. and TRW Sun Steering Wheels Pvt. Ltd
Sunvac and Sun Steering have provided support to our OHOT program read more

Tata Trust
Tata trust has supported our efforts of designing and monitoring read more

DMI Finance
DMI Has been associated with US since 2018 read more

Pramiti Philanthropy Partners
Pramiti has supported us to conduct a citywide social housing read more

How Our Work Has Impacted More Than One Generation In A Family

Over the past 30 years, we have personally witnessed at least two generations within the families we have worked with. It has been deeply rewarding to observe their upward economic and social mobility, which continues to strengthen and flourish with each successive generation.

OHOT (One Home One Toilet)

Permanent Behavior Change In Sanitation & Hygiene

Home toilets have been transformative for slum families, cultivating a culture of good hygiene behavior that spans multiple generations. We have witnessed that children who have been raised in households with home toilets grow up valuing sanitation and maintain these habits as adults, passing them on to their future generations. This intergenerational shift has led to a permanent behavior change, creating a ripple effect of improved health and well-being among poor families.

Augmented Women’s Safety, Empowerment, and Health

Without home toilets, women often face unsafe conditions that compromise their safety, dignity, and well-being. By constructing a toilet within the home, we have addressed these vulnerabilities for women, enabling them to focus on education, work, and caregiving responsibilities. For girls, access to a home toilet has significantly improved school attendance, especially during menstruation. Moreover, home toilets have had a direct positive impact on women’s health. A study conducted by the Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics on the impact of our OHOT project revealed a 19% reduction in urinary tract infections (UTIs) among women.

Improved Health and Financial Well Being

The construction of toilets was a collaborative effort between the local administration, SA and the beneficiaries, fostering a sense of ownership and responsibility. As a result, 52.5% of the families we worked with also upgraded their homes, enhancing their overall lifestyle. Additionally, 75% of families reported improved accessibility and better health outcomes for elders, children, and individuals with disabilities. Women in households with newly constructed toilets also experienced reduced anxiety and stress, highlighting the significant impact on their well-being. In addition, we have also started educating the women beneficiaries on Menstrual Hygiene and many of these women are now using Menstrual Cups. In some families, both mother and daughter have adopted menstrual cups.

Housing

Community Development

We believe slum rehabilitation goes beyond providing better housing; it fosters a sense of community and belonging. By relocating families into well-planned housing with access to essential services we created an environment where neighbors connected, collaborated, and supported one another. This shared experience of rebuilding lives in a dignified space has strengthened social bonds and promoted collective growth as can be observed in our earliest housing projects – Dattawadi and Kamgar Putla in Pune.

Security Of Tenure

With ownership of their homes, the families that we have rehabilitated have gained protection from the constant threat of eviction. This stability has allowed them to invest in their children’s education, health, and well-being without the constant threat of displacement. For children, growing up in a secure environment has contributed to better educational outcomes and emotional stability, setting the stage for upward mobility. Over time, secure tenure has helped break the cycle of poverty, empowering future generations to achieve greater economic and social success.

Social Mobility

In Dattawadi and Kamgar Putla, many families started to send their children to English Medium schools and we have observed that when children from these rehabilitated communities gained access to better schools, they received quality education that enhanced their skills and aspirations. This access has opened doors to higher-paying jobs and diverse career paths, allowing them to improve their living standards and contribute to the economy. Over time, this transformation will foster a more equitable society.

Ensuring Livelihood And Lifestyle

Our innovative approach to housing for the poor has transformed lives by preserving livelihoods and lifestyles. Unlike many housing projects that fail because they relocate families to areas far from their workplaces, schools, and healthcare facilities, SA prioritized building housing close to existing communities. By involving families in the design process, the initiative fostered a sense of ownership and ensured the new homes met their needs. This thoughtful approach not only encouraged residents to embrace housing but also significantly improved their overall well-being and quality of life.

Digital Address

Economic Mobility

With a recognized address, slums dwellers have gained access to critical services at their doorstep such as banking, insurance, and government welfare schemes, which were previously inaccessible without proper identification. Addresses have also facilitated employment opportunities by making it easier for people to apply for jobs and receive correspondence. Furthermore, they have empowered small businesses within informal settlements by connecting them to broader markets and supply chains. This has led to improvement in the financial condition and long-term stability of over 1,00,000 slum families.

Dignity And Inclusion

Without a recognized address, many slum dwellers remain invisible and are often excluded from developmental initiatives. By providing digital addresses, we have ensured their inclusion in government-led developmental efforts. An address grants slum dwellers dignity by affirming their recognition and identity within society. For the poor, dignity is a fundamental human right that holds immense significance. It instills confidence and motivation, empowering individuals to pursue better opportunities, actively engage in their communities, and advocate for their rights leading to sustainable development.

Participation In Governance

Families now have access to essential services right at their doorstep, empowering them to address community issues more effectively. They can directly engage with the government to resolve challenges such as cleaning drainage and gutter lines, maintaining waste collection systems, and repairing streetlights to enhance security. This improved access has fostered active participation from slum communities in local governance, enabling them to contribute to the betterment of their neighborhoods and strengthen civic collaboration.

Data

Inclusive Development

By providing the government with granular slum data visualized through GIS mapping, we effectively highlight developmental gaps, enabling targeted and structured initiatives that address the needs of the poor where they matter most. We also track the progress of access to essential resources such as healthcare, housing, and sanitation, which are vital for enhancing the quality of life of vulnerable populations, through ongoing field surveys.

Infrastructure Development

Spatial data has become a cornerstone for long-term infrastructure development. Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) have leveraged this data to strategically design and implement critical systems. It has been instrumental in laying efficient drainage networks, providing reliable home water connections, and enhancing the monitoring and management of waste systems. This data-driven approach ensures sustainable urban planning and enables well-planned growth.

Awards & Honors

Slide 1

2007 – Ashoka fellowship awarded to Pratima Joshi

2009 – Only Indian organization to receive the Google Earth Hero Award

2016 – Times Network Digital Social Innovation Award

2016 – HUDCO Award for Best Practices in Sanitation

2017 – Winner of NASSCOM Social Innovation Forum
(Environment Category)

Slide 2

2020 – Local Project Challenge (LPC) Honor Award at the UN Habitat World Urban Forum 10 in Abu Dhabi

2021 – Forbes recognized Pratima Joshi as one of the 20 Most Powerful Women In India

2023 – Aarohan Social Innovation Award for OHOT under Women Empowerment category

2023 – Pratima Joshi awarded INDUSEM’s Samajik Abhiyantrik Sanmaan, Women Icons Leading Swacchata

The OHOT model has been recognised and our teams felicitated by various municipal corporations

Testimonials

Slide 1

We have spent most of our lives in slums, but we are more than happy our children will be able to live in a permanent home and have better lives. There is a drastic change in how we live now from how we lived earlier. Our children are being raised more respectfully and with more dignity.

Savita Dhaval, Sangli

Housing

We belong to the Dalit community and would be harassed every time we went out to use the public toilet. Having a toilet at home has saved us from the fear and harassment we would face and has given us the freedom to use the toilet whenever we need to. By choosing to build a toilet at home,we could also get running water and electricity in the house.

Ms Anita Lokhande, Dhayari, Pune

OHOT

Google's Plus Codes have made our lives much easier. Previously, delivery agents or postmen struggled to locate our house and often required distant landmarks for guidance. This meant we had to walk long distances to receive parcels, and sometimes deliveries were missed entirely. Thanks to Shelter Associates, we now use a navigable Plus Code on Google Maps, ensuring orders arrive directly at our doorstep.

Suraj More, Navi Mumbai

Plus Codes

Slide 2

I own an electronics supplies shop. After being assigned a plus code, the material is delivered right at my doorstep now. Earlier when any delivery partner or relative was visiting my house, they had to call us and we would have to guide them over the phone using landmarks like rickshaw stands or nearby shops or we had to go pick them up. Now we are free from all of those hassles.

Bhagyashree Kalyankar, Kolhapur

Plus Codes

I was using pads earlier and it would cause itching and rashes. It was a great relief when I started using cups. It doesn’t feel like I am menstruating ever since I have started using cups. It feels so good!

Prajakta Kamble, Pune

Menstrual Hygiene

Thanks to Shelter Associates, today we understand the importance of a home toilet. The crowd, bad odour and illnesses, especially COVID, spreads very easily at the community toilet blocks. I thank Shelter Associates for building toilets in our homes.

Amol Rajaram Deshingkar, Kolhapur

OHOT

Stories Of Change

Slide

Slum Rehabilitation Project In
Sangli Miraj

Behavioral Shift In Sanitation Practices
Turbhe, Navi Mumbai

Technology Driven Covid Response
In Kolhapur

Shelter Associates

SA was founded by architects in 1994 with a passion to ensure equitable access to essential services for the urban poor. SA follows a data-driven, multistakeholder approach to designing and implementing community-centric solutions around sanitation and social housing issues. Know More

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'Kanha', Plot. no. 340, lane no. 18, Mahatma Society, Kothrud, Pune - 411038