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
Thoughts From Our Founder Pratima Joshi

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

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
Security Of Tenure
Social Mobility
Ensuring Livelihood And Lifestyle
Digital Address
Economic Mobility
Dignity And Inclusion
Participation In Governance
Data
Inclusive Development
Infrastructure Development
Stories Of Change
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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Contact
+91 8087607545
info@shelter-associates.org
'Kanha', Plot. no. 340, lane no. 18, Mahatma Society, Kothrud, Pune - 411038