City to bring housing relief to thousands

THOUSANDS of people are set to benefit from more than two dozen housing development projects, which have been announced by the City of Cape Town as part of its Breaking New Ground (BNG) state-subsided housing.

The projects, the city council said, are spread across the city and are in ongoing or planning phases. The municipality has a housing waiting list exceeding 300 000.

One of the main challenges, mayco member for urban development Brett Herron said was providing affordable housing.

“We must execute a housing programme in accordance with the national housing code which provides for state intervention for those households with an income below R3 500 a month and for those households living in sub-optimal circumstances and who have income of between R3 500 and R15 000 per month,” he said.

Cape Town is one of the most expensive cities in the country, with rentals for a one-bedroom apartment in the central part of the city exceeding R7 000 a month, according to TPN, one of the biggest registered credit bureaus on the continent.

The city also recently announced it will do away with temporary relocation areas (TRA), such as Blikkiesdorp and Wolwerivier, largely seen as dumping grounds for homeless people.

Here are the housing projects earmarked for area east: Helderberg, Lourensia Park in Somerset West, Morkel’s Cottage in Strand, Wallacedene in Kraaifontein, Bardale; Scottsdene; Macassar; Driftsands in Sir Lowry’s Pass Village.

Housing developments and upgrades planned for next financial year in area north include areas in Belhar, Delft and Witsand in Atlantis.

For area south, residents can expect projects in Ocean View, Gugulethu, Imizamo Yethu and Manenberg.

Other regions are Highlands Drive and Beacon Valley in Mitchells Plain, Harare and Mahama in Khayelitsha.

“The city has key obligations in realising our residents’ right of access to adequate housing. We are prevented from providing a state housing opportunity to any person who does not meet the qualification criteria unless they are in an emergency situation which has created an exceptional housing need,” Herron said.

“The emergency housing programme is intended to benefit persons who are not able to address their emergency from their own resources or from other resources, such as from other state housing programmes.

“That said, there is a clear need for the city to expand the availability of transitional housing to assist residents who may be displaced due to reasons beyond their control.” –