Human Settlements

[a] Yes: the needs of the “physically challenged” are addressed in three sets of policies to which my Department subscribes. 

Firstly, in terms of the National Housing Code, a national policy, a particular subsidy product is prescribed for beneficiaries of new housing projects who are wheelchair dependent.  Instead of receiving a 40 square metre house, beneficiaries will receive a 45 square metre house with ramps and other adaptations.  The subsidy amounts for the 45 square meter units are updated periodically.

The Housing Code also prescribes particular adaptions to the standard 40 square meter subsidy house for the following disabilities, as described in the Housing Code:

• Needs walking aids
• Partially/profoundly deaf
• Partially/totally blind
• Partial/total movement loss/paralysis in the upper body limbs

The additional subsidy amounts to finance these adaptations are given in a subsidy “variation manual” which is updated periodically.

Secondly, in addition to the above, the Western Cape Department of Human Settlements sets aside the difference in subsidy amounts between the 45 and 40 square metre houses on 5% of the total units in a project to accommodate the possible variation in cost from the standard 40 square meter house due to disability.  The budget set aside for this, is to ensure that the required resources are available.  Beneficiaries wishing to claim the 45 square metre house or the adaptation are required to provide municipalities, who are the developers of subsidy housing projects, with doctors’ certificates verifying their status. 

Thirdly, the needs of “physically challenged” are addressed in the “Western Cape Provincial Framework Policy for the Selection of Housing Beneficiaries in ownership-based subsidy projects” [Framework Policy]. This is a set of norms and principles for the selection of housing subsidy beneficiaries in the Province.  Beneficiary selection responsibilities rest with the municipalities, as they are the developers for housing subsidy projects. As such each municipality is expected to develop a beneficiary selection policy that is consistent with the Framework Policy.

According to the Framework Policy, municipalities should prioritise to a reasonable extent, households that are in desperate need.  A desperate need is a severe need that endures over time as opposed to an acute episode of desperation and hardship.  Municipalities should count households containing members who are permanently disabled as defined by the South African Social Security Agency [SASSA] as being households in desperate need.  Such households will include those that are “physically challenged”. 

[B]  Residents who are “physically challenged” receive information about whether and how they can benefit from subsidy housing projects in two important ways. 

Firstly, as developers, municipalities explain the Housing Code provisions for certain types of disabilities to the beneficiaries of the project during the course of the project.  The procedures through which beneficiaries can claim 45 square metre houses or adaptations are clearly explained.

Secondly, with regard to selecting beneficiaries for projects, the Framework Policy requires that municipalities communicate the content of their selection policy to their residents regularly, including sections of their policies covering households affected by permanent disability.  The prioritisation of these households during selection is dependent of these households registering themselves and their disability status on municipalities’ housing demand databases.  My Department has strongly encouraged municipalities to run regular registration and updating campaigns aimed at their residents.