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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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!

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.

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.

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
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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.

Highlights Of Our 30 Years Journey

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

Awards And Honors Received

Slide 1
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
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
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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

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

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

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.

Stories Of Change

Slide
Slum Rehabilitation Project In
Sangli Miraj
Behavioral Shift In Sanitation Practices
Turbhe, Navi Mumbai
Technology Driven Covid Response
In Kolhapur

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.

 

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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Pramiti Philanthropy Partners

Pramiti has supported us to conduct a citywide social housing research project for Kolhapur city. Later they extended the CSR grant to support the technical team to implement the Bondre Nagar housing project at Kolhapur.

DMI Finance

DMI Has been associated with US since 2018. Initially they supported the facilitation of 150 toilets in Pimpri Chinchwad Muncipal Corporation. Since 2021 they have supported the Bondre Nagar housing project at Kolhapur with both soft and hard support. The CSR heads have visited many of our projects over the years and have been a strong supporter of our initiatives.

Tata Trust

Tata trust has supported our efforts of designing and monitoring the implementation of citywide housing project in Sangli-Miraj-Kupwad Municipal Corporation from 2008 to 2015 where almost 1500 tenements were facilitated over 6 sites. Of late they are also supporting the citywide mapping of a few Nagar Panchayats in the state of Uttar Pradesh.

Sun Vacuum Formers Private Ltd. and TRW Sun Steering Wheels Pvt. Ltd

Sunvac and Sun Steering have provided support to our OHOT program since 2016. Over the last 8 years we have facilitated over 1500 home toilets with their funding support in Pune and PCMC slum communities.

UNICEF

UNICEF provided invaluable support during the COVID-19 pandemic by funding the development of sanitation-related communication materials and a vaccination project. They also facilitated workshops on mental health for volunteers and stakeholders, ensuring their well-being and resilience during challenging times.

Bank of America and HT Parekh Foundation

Our partnership with Bank of America enabled us to expand our reach to new cities, including Navi Mumbai, Thane, and Panvel, by providing crucial funding for this growth. Similarly, the funding support from HT Parekh Foundation helped us to establish our footprint in Kolhapur.

Chintoo Gudiya Foundation

The foundation of our data practice was established with the support of the Chintu Gudiya Foundation, which played a crucial role in developing our initial technology framework for data collection, visualization, and reporting. The three-stage technology solution began with KoBoToolbox for creating survey forms and capturing data. The data collected was then integrated with GIS and overlaid on Google Maps. Finally, BIRT (Business Intelligence and Reporting Tool) was utilized to generate detailed visualizations and reports at both the individual toilet and slum levels.

Google

We leverage Google Earth Pro to map slums with precision. Using satellite base maps from Google Earth, we annotate each house, along with the slum's existing infrastructure and access to essential services such as toilets, running water, and waste disposal for individual households. These detailed maps highlight infrastructure gaps, enabling us to identify developmental needs, plan and implement targeted actions, and effectively showcase progress over time. In addition, we have used Google’s Plus Codes technology to effectively provide unique addresses that are navigable on Google Maps to slum households.

Dasra

We were honored to be selected for the Dasra Giving Circle on Urban Sanitation in India, a program that supports high-impact NGOs by providing funding and advisory assistance in areas such as management, finance, human resources, and program development.

UCAN Founding Member

As a founding member of U-CAN (Urban Collective Action Network), we are committed to fostering collaboration among individuals, communities, policymakers, and state agencies in Tier II and Tier III Indian cities. U-CAN provides a safe platform for open dialogue and problem-solving, aiming to enhance urban governance and create a richer livable urban experience.

Policy Papers

Types of Government Education Presentation in Black and White Illustrative Style - 1

We have published policy papers as follows

  1. Sanitation: Published policy paper comparing the Swachh Bharat Mission’s model with our One Home One Toilet (OHOT) model
  2. Housing: Published housing policy paper focusing on Beneficiary Led Construction vertical of the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban) (PMAY-U)

Digital Addressing

We have successfully delivered Digital addresses using Google’s Plus Code technology to over 100,000 slum households across four cities in Maharashtra. These unique alphanumeric addresses, navigable via Google Maps, enable even the most remote residents to seamlessly access essential services such as postal delivery, emergency assistance, gas cylinders, and other online services.

OHOT Tool Kit

Our free and open source OHOT Toolkit is a collection of tools, information and procedures to help other non-governmental organizations, facilitators, sponsors and local govts can replicate the model in informal settlements. Find the OHOT Tool Kit here - https://shelter-associates.org/media/

1st City Wide Housing Project In Sangli

As consultants for the Integrated Housing and Slum Development Programme (IHSDP) in Sangli-Miraj-Kupwad, we introduced innovative approaches to participatory slum surveying, GIS-based spatial data mapping, participatory housing planning, cooperative tenure structures, and a citywide strategy for delivering housing—moving beyond the traditional project-by-project approach. This forward-thinking methodology later influenced government policy under the Rajiv Awas Yojana (RAY), which mandated cities to map their underprivileged communities using GIS and remote sensing technologies.

Collaborative Model For Home Toilets In Slums

Our three-pronged One Home One Toilet (OHOT) model leverages spatial data to pinpoint critical gaps in sanitation services. It collaborates with Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) to lay or repair drainage lines and mobilizes communities to adopt improved hygiene and sanitation practices. Toilets are constructed through a joint effort, where we provide the raw materials, and families contribute to the construction costs, fostering ownership and sustainability. We have facilitated the construction of more than 28000 toilets, impacting the health & living conditions of more than 2 lakh individuals.

Data System For Urban Local Bodies

In addition to co-creating data in collaboration with communities and Urban Local Bodies (ULBs), we democratized our data by making it publicly accessible. It is uploaded to our data portal on our website for public viewership and linked to the websites of partnering ULBs. Sharing this data in the public domain has enhanced its utility and impact, fostering broader accessibility and informed decision-making. Our analysis has served as a critical foundation for planning, monitoring, tracking, and implementing developmental initiatives.

Beneficiary Led Housing For Slum Redevelopment

We implemented a unique approach to slum redevelopment by involving the community in an inclusive design & development process and innovation based on data. As a result, we have successfully rehabilitated 9000 individuals from vulnerable slums into better living conditions in our three major projects in Pune and Sangli-Miraj. Our ongoing slum redevelopment housing project in Kolhapur is the only slum redevelopment project being implemented under the Beneficiary Led Construction vertical of the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojna in Maharashtra.

GIS Mapping Of Slums

Recognizing the gap between existing slum data and ground realities, in the late 1990s, we pioneered the use of Geographic Information System (GIS) technology and Google Earth for poverty mapping. By mapping settlement patterns & infrastructure in and around each target slum, we have generated granular spatial data that is further enriched with household-level survey data. To ensure accuracy and legitimacy, the data has also been validated with the Municipalities we partner with. This data is being used to identify the most vulnerable populations and plan targeted interventions.