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THE CUSTOMER SUPPORT CENTER

Category: Question: Answer:
Social housing What is Social Housing? Social Housing is the development, ownership and management of affordable quality housing registered by Housing Institutions for residential accommodation purposes to people who receive State Housing Assistance
Social housing What is the objective of Social Housing?

The strategic objective of the programme is to facilitate the delivery of affordable quality housing, in partnership with the Private Sector through the granting of Institutional Housing Subsidy Scheme. This is in respect of the development of the housing units for the specific target market. Therefore, the Social Housing promotes urban integration, socio-economic development and the regeneration id the urban infrastructure and the environment.

Social housing What is Institutional Housing Subsidy? Institutional Housing Subsidy is a funding mechanism specifically focussed on assisting people who qualify in terms of the set criteria to obtain the security of tenure, through a managed housing programme under the auspices of Housing Institutions
Title deeds What is a Title Deed? A title deed is a legal document that reflects the particulars of the owner of the property, the description of the property and the conditions attached to the property.
Title deeds Why a Title Deed? To convey entitlement and ownership of the property. Also, to help in the protection of the rights. Furthermore, to develop a sense of ownership and identity.
Gauteng Partnership fund What is the Gauteng Partnership fund?

The department has been engaging with various stakeholders in the development of the financial structure of the Gauteng Partnership Fund. The reason for this interaction was to create products that will unlock blockages pertaining to housing finance. Stakeholders the department has engaged with are:

  • Housing associations - Yeast city, JHC, Germiston Inner City Housing Association, etc;
  • Financial institutions - RMB, ABSA, African Bank, etc;
  • NHFC, Nurcha, HLGC, Banking Council, Finmark Trust, Inca, WSW (Netherlands), etc;
  • Trustees of the GPF;
  • Treasury.
HIV / AIDS Why test? The Housing Department promotes and encourages its people (beneficiaries) to undergo an HIV/AIDS test. Knowing you are infected can help you live longer and prevent you from infecting others around you.
HIV / AIDS Where can I test?
  • The decision is yours. You can ask for a test at your local clinic or at one of the Voluntary Counselling and Testing (VCT) sites.
  • You need to understand what happens if the test is positive or negative. Obviously, pre-counselling is important as much as post counselling after testing.
  • You need to understand and consider personal implications of a positive result without being over anxious about problems and how to cope.
  • If positive, quit bad habits like smoking and drinking. Do exercises, sleep enough, each nourishing foods and refrain from sexual activities.
  • If negative, learn how to stay that way.
    • PHP What is PHP? PHP is a housing programme that is aimed at supporting households who wish to enhance their subsidies by building or managing the building of thir own houses. Beneficiaries should reside on serviced sites and have proof of ownership if they with to benefit from PHP.
    PHP What is a serviced site?

    A fully serviced site provides the family and community with:

    • Driniking water,
    • Sanitation (toilet and sewage disposal),
    • Storm water draining, and
    • Road
    PHP What is a Support Organisation (SO)?

    Support Organisation must be established. It must be a legal entity and shall provide the following:

    • Receiving and administering the subsidies,
    • Providing technical, financial and administrative support to families building their own homes.
    PHP How can your community mobilize (HSC)?
  • Organise a community meeting of homelss families
  • Invite the councillors of the areas as well as the organisations who will be able to provide support (e.g. an NGO, church group, municipality, etc).
  • Discuss how you will go about building your houses.
  • Elect a housing support committee.
  • Organise with the Gaueng Department of Housing, Directorate: (PHP) to explain the PHP process through workshops.
  • Make a list of families from the community, who will form the part of the project.
    • PHP Who qualifies for a subsidy for PHP?
  • You are a South African Citizen or have a permanent residence permit,
  • You are married or living with a long-term partner,
  • You are single, over 21 years and have dependents,
  • Your household earns R1 500 per month or less,
  • You or your wife/household/partners have not previously owned property and are currently the owner of the serviced site, and
  • You understand what a contract means and the responsibility that goes with it.
    • PHP What subsidy can you get for PHP?
    • If household earns up to R1 500 per month - You will get R20 300
    • If household earns R1 501 - R5 500 per month - You will get R14 900
    • If household earns R5 501 - R3 500 per month - You will get R8 200
    • The consolidated subsidy is different: If household earns up to R1 500 per month. You will get R10 900.
    • Consolidation for Special Needs (aged, disabled) R13 400
    PHP How do you start building your own house?

    Discuss with the SO the various options available for the construction of your house:

    • Self built
    • Assistance of accredited builders
    • Determine the value you can contribute to the housing product cost by making a financial contribution, material contribution or labour. The SO will determine whether your choice of house based on your contribution (i.e. financial, material or labour) is implementable. The SO will be able to prepare a building plan for your house based on your needs and contributions. The building plan must be in accordance with the Gauteng minimum norms and standards approved by the Municipality. The SO will enter into a building contract with you.