Shelter Associates

Shelter Associates is a Non Government Organization (NGO) working in Maharashtra, India. Based in Pune, the organization comprises Architects, Social Workers, Geographic Information Systems (GIS) experts and Community Workers.  Shelter works with the urban poor, particularly women, in informal settlements to facilitate and provide technical support for community-managed housing (Slum Rehabilitation) and infrastructure projects.

• Housing the Urban Poor
• Health, Hygiene & Sanitation
• Education, Training & Livelihood
• Mapping & Research

Shelter Associates works in close partnership with Baandhani ('Building Together' in Marathi).  Baandhani groups are collectives of poor men and women from informal settlements in Mahrashtrian cities.  These groups have chosen to work together under the banner of Baandhani and to work with Shelter Associates to:

• Promote community participation in housing and infrastructure projects for the poor
• Promote and support community-led housing projects
• Promote and support community-managed settlement improvement projects
• Support the formation of savings and credit groups which work for poor women
• Create a database of poor settlements in Pune