Let There Be Salt in the Soup Association

Çorbada Tuzun Olsun Derneği is a civil society organization active in Türkiye that aims to develop sustainable policies to address homelessness, meet the basic humanitarian needs of homeless individuals, and facilitate their reintegration into society. After initiating activities in the field of homelessness for 2.5 years, the organization officially gained association status in January 2017. Based in Istanbul, it is one of the few organizations in Türkiye conducting work on homelessness.

^{Çorbada Tuzun Olsun Derneği Logosu (}Kaynak: Dernek⁾

The association carries out food distributions every evening in the Beyoğlu district as part of its basic humanitarian efforts. It also reaches homeless individuals in various districts of Istanbul such as Beşiktaş, Kadıköy, Fatih, Şişli and Üsküdar. Food distribution is not viewed as the organization’s ultimate goal but rather as a means to establish communication with homeless individuals and support their reintegration into society.

Çorbada Tuzun Olsun Derneği does not limit its efforts to meeting the daily food needs of homeless individuals. It aims to develop long-term solutions such as facilitating access to social services, improving access to healthcare, and encouraging individuals to exit informal living conditions. Through activities including identification processes, referrals to health and psychosocial support services, guidance in addiction recovery programs, and developing housing solutions, the organization seeks to reintegrate homeless individuals into society.

The association emphasizes that homelessness is not merely an individual housing issue but also a structural deficiency within society. In this context, it focuses on rehabilitation processes to strengthen the social ties of homeless individuals. Another important dimension of its work is raising public awareness about homelessness. The organization advocates that social responsibility must be pursued consciously, stressing that such efforts must be guided not by emotional reactions but by scientific and sustainable policies.

In line with this approach, Çorbada Tuzun Olsun Derneği collaborates with universities, the private sector, public institutions and other civil society organizations to develop new perspectives in combating homelessness. By framing homelessness not as a lack of shelter but as a consequence of inadequate social support mechanisms, the organization contributes to the development of public policies.

The association operates on the principle of volunteering. Individuals from different age groups, professions, educational backgrounds and worldviews participate in its activities to support homeless people. The organization holds that volunteering is not merely about offering help but also serves as a tool for generating social awareness and fostering a sense of collective responsibility.

Çorbada Tuzun Olsun Derneği implements various projects to enable individuals and institutions to contribute to efforts against homelessness and to encourage public participation. To ensure the sustainability of its work, it maintains regular donation systems, partnerships and mechanisms for volunteer engagement.