Government housing allocation has a clear process | Western Cape Government

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Government housing allocation has a clear process

10 November 2020

Affording a housing opportunity to qualifying and deserving beneficiaries continues to be a priority for the Western Cape Department of Human Settlements.

It is for this reason that we are focussed on 4 key drivers, which are:

  1. Radical Acceleration of Housing Opportunities
  2. Radical Implementation of Innovative Solutions
  3. An Integrated Approach to Human Settlements, and
  4. Radical Empowerment and Job Creation

 

In order for us to effectively implement these key drivers, it must be understood that that there is a clear housing allocation process, which consists of 9 critical steps, where both the different spheres of Government and the applicant have roles to play. These are:

  1. The applicant must register for a housing opportunity at their local housing office or on the WCG App. This registration could be for assistance with a fully subsidised Government house, obtaining a serviced site or social housing. 
  2. The resident gets registered on the Western Cape Housing Demand Database (WCHDDB) to stand in line to becoming a beneficiary of the housing opportunity once it becomes available. This could be in the form of a housing project, public rental housing or available funding. 
  3. Municipalities continuously plan for housing opportunities in the form of housing projects. These plans are submitted to the Western Cape Department of Human Settlements for approval to which funding will be allocated. Drafting such a business plan happens over a period of time, and involves a feasibility study, an environmental impact study, integration with local facilities, ensuring it is close to schools, work and business opportunities and health facilities. 
  4. The development of the project can commence once all approvals of the project plan is signed off, funding allocation by the Western Cape Government is secured and other matters, such as land acquisition, servicing and site preparation are initiated.
  5. The municipality will then apply its selection criteria as set out in its approved housing allocation policy to preselect a list of potential beneficiaries for the project.
  6. These preliminary selected households' information is then captured from the subsidy application forms into the Housing Subsidy System (HSS) which does several checks against the Population Register, Deeds Office, the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) and other Government systems to ensure that applicants still qualify in terms of the subsidy qualifying criteria. Several rounds of beneficiary selection may take place, removing applicants who don't qualify, until all the housing opportunities have been allocated. The municipality will then make contact with the potential beneficiaries to determine whether they are still interested. It is very important that applicants keep their details, especially their contact information, on the housing database up to date to ensure that they are easily contactable. 
  7. The municipality will then publicise the beneficiary list in its local offices for public scrutiny. We have recommended that this list be published in the local newspaper and other public spaces to ensure it reaches a wider audience.
  8. Once all planning and project approval processes have been successfully completed, construction can now take place. Projects are usually executed in phases where housing opportunities are handed over continuously until the whole project is complete and signed off.
  9. Once complete, beneficiaries will be contacted by the Municipality, to inform them that they may now take occupation of the residential unit. The occupancy includes the signing of all relevant documentation.

I’d like to call on all stakeholders to always keep these steps in mind and exercise patience. Our primary priority will continue to be the elderly, those living with a medically certified disability, those who have been on the WCHDDB for 15 years and longer and the backyard dwellers.

As the Western Cape Government, we remain committed to accelerating human settlement delivery, while promoting social inclusion through the development of integrated, resilient, safe and sustainable human settlements in an open opportunity society.

Media Enquiries: 

Marcellino Martin
Spokesperson for Minister Tertuis Simmers
Tel: 021 483 3397
Mobile: 082 721 3362
Email: Marcellino.martin@westerncape.gov.za

or

Nathan Adriaanse
Director Communication & Stakeholder Relations
Tell: 021 483 2868
Mobile: 083 2631720
Email: Nathan.Adriaanse@westerncape.gov.za