By Clive Ndou
A COMMUNITY-DRIVEN housing project is thriving in Cape Town and could be used as a model for future housing initiatives to address housing shortages in the province.
The project, spearheaded by the "Lusaka" community in Langa, is also partly driven by the non-governmental organisation, Habitat for South Africa, and is sponsored by some private companies. Since the project began two years ago, 81 houses have been built.
Habitat's representative in the area, Peter Francis, said he was impressed by the positive attitude displayed by local residents."The community here has come in full force and volunteered their services in the building process."
"Their efforts did not only contribute to the reduction of the housing shortage problem in the area, it also armed local residents with crucial building skills which they could in future rely on to earn a living," he said.
The project was started when local residents formed a committee whose objective was to identify people who needed shelter.
The names of prospective beneficiaries are then submitted to the Department of Housing for subsidy allocations. In addition to the state housing subsidy, various banks are also approached for housing loans.
"Instead of people applying for housing subsidies on an individual basis, the project makes it possible for them to apply as a project.
"Because lots of locals earn very little and wouldn't quality for banks loans, Habitat South Africa apply for bank loans on their behalf," said Francis.
Corporations such as Old Mutual, Standard Chartered Bank, and many more others, also sponsor beneficiaries.
The money is used to buy building materials, while labour comes from local residents, who work on a voluntary basis. Beneficiaries pay back about R250 to R300 per month. This is then recycled back into the project and is used to build more houses.
Speaking during his visit to the project, housing MEC Marius Fransman said the project was a good example of what his department had been calling for.
"This is a partnership that not only constructs houses but also reconstructs the soul of the province," Fransman said. "It is encouraging to see people from business, NGOs and the local community at large, coming together to confront one of the biggest challenges faced by our government: housing," he said.
Source: BuaNews
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