Human Settlements
(1) Whether there are any categories that prioritise the elderly and disabled for social housing; if not, why not; if so, (a) what are these categories and (b) what is the respective waiting periods once they have been registered on the housing database;
(2) whether any additional strategic private-public partnerships will be used to bring relief to this Department in respect of the waiting periods relating to social housing; if not, why not; if so, what are the relevant details?
[1][a] My department formally adopted during September 2012 guidelines: Western Cape Provincial Framework Policy for the selection of Housing Beneficiaries in ownership-based subsidy
projects.
The framework calls for Municipalities to balance housing opportunities between various groups namely: people in formal overcrowded conditions often referred to as Backyarders, Informal
settlements dwellers, Middle Aged and Elderly persons, Persons with disabilities and Families in desperate need.
[b] Where there is little correlation between registration dates and the age of the individuals or heads of households, municipalities must ensure that the selection of beneficiaries occurs in a manner that is skewed towards elderly or middle aged persons in a registration date ordered list.
It should also be noted that in terms of the City of Cape Town’s Allocation Policy, the oversight committee considers cases of exceptional housing need brought to their attention and would make recommendations to their Executive Director for approval for priority allocation.
[2] My department advertised an Expression of Interest in 2017. The purpose hereof was to invite potential partners, including private sectors to submit and register their details and provide suitable Affordable Housing projects and initiatives. The projects and initiatives received will be concluded in a Framework Agreement and the registered stakeholders will be approached on a needs basis for possible partnership opportunities in line with my Department’s strategy.
A Standard Operating Procedure [SOP] for partnerships was developed to support the efficient management of partnerships opportunities.
