Transcript Slide 1

GAUTENG SPECIAL NEEDS
POLICY
Presented at the CLC/CDLP Seminar on Special Needs
Housing Policy Framework
Townhouse Hotel, Cape Town
28 June 2012
PURPOSE
To share the Gauteng Special Needs Policy
with particular focus on stakeholder debates
and experience during formulation and
execution
BACKGROUND
 Since 1994 the plight of persons with disability is being addressed
through a ‘social model’ rather than as a social welfare and
medical concern.
 The ‘social model’ focuses on abilities of people with disabilities
rather than their disabilities, and reinforces the principle of full
participation of persons with disabilities in mainstream society
and the mainstreaming of disability issues.
 In dealing with housing needs for the disabled, checks would be
made and information verified on these applications. This is to
avoid people falsely adopting disabled children in order to
expedite the process of accessing housing opportunities.
POLICY OBJECTIVES, SCOPE & PRINCIPLES
OBJECTIVES:
(1) To address housing needs and requirements for special
needs categories through a variety of housing
instruments; and
(2) To encourage the participation of military veterans and
people living with disability in housing delivery.
SCOPE:
The following special needs groups are covered:
»
»
»
»
»
PRINCIPLES:
People with Disability,
Child-Headed Households,
Applicants with Physically challenged dependants,
The older persons, and
Destitute Military Veterans.
Fairness and equity, transparency and accountability,
partnership, community participation, and integration.
REGULATORY FRAMEWORK
 Constitution of the Republic of South Africa,
Act 108 of 1996: Section 26 (i.e. right of access to adequate
housing...), and Section 9 (i.e. the state may not unfairly discriminate
directly or indirectly...)
 Housing Act No. 107 of 1997
 Gauteng Housing Act No. 6 of 1998
 Military Veterans Affairs Act, 1999 No 17
 Breaking New Ground (BNG)
 Housing Code 2009
 Social Housing Act No. 16 of 2008
 Gauteng Growth and Development Strategy
 Broad Based Black Economic Empowerment Act
 Emerging Contractor Development Framework
QUALIFICATION CRITERIA
General Principles:
 The qualification criteria shall be as stated in the Housing Code and
in the provincial Housing Demand Database and Allocation Policy,
however the process of delinking shall not apply when dealing with
disabled beneficiaries.
 The Department shall prioritise 5% allocation in housing projects to
cater for people living with disability, military veterans and the
aged.
 In order to access housing subsidy on behalf of the minor
child/dependant, the eligible care giver will have to demonstrate
that an orphan/vulnerable child/children has/have been placed
with him/her through a court order.
QUALIFICATION CRITERIA
People with disabilities:
 Any person with a disability with a productivity level below 50%;
 Service recipients must be screened according to the DQ 98 screening
tool and be in receipt of a Disability Grant; and
 The beneficiary must also comply with the criteria set in the National
Housing Code.
Beneficiaries of deceased military veterans:
 The subsidy may be accessed where such rights have been secured. The
following criteria should apply:
o Death certificate of the military veteran;
o Certificate of proof of service and/or membership as a veteran of a recognized
organization;
o Proof of the nature of the rights secured, such as a sale agreement, approved
subsidy application; and
o Proof of relationship with the deceased (birth or marriage certificate).
PREFERENCE FOR OTHER INSTITUTIONAL FORMS OF
CARE
 Wherever possible, efforts should be made to utilise family
orientated care within existing communities.
 Where possible, persons with special needs should be cared for
within the extended family and the necessary support such as
welfare grants made available to facilitate this.
 Care within small homes which replicate or create a family
environment is the next best option (i.e., community care home
model)
 Institutions such as children’s homes, hospices and shelters, whilst
they should be considered as a last resort, will still be required from
time to time given the scale of need on the ground.
SUBSIDY INSTRUMENTS
 There is a wide range of subsidy mechanisms that can be accessed
by vulnerable groups. Applicants should qualify in terms of the
criteria set in the Housing Code and then standard implementation
for each of the instruments (i.e. individual subsidy, consolidation
subsidy, project linked etc.) shall apply.
SPECIAL NEEDS HOUSING UPGRADE
 The Department has embraced a limited social responsibility role to
care for the needy falling outside the traditional subsidy bracket such
as the older persons, orphans, HIV/Aids Hospices, shelters for victims
of domestic violence as well as Child-headed households by
extending its mandate to provide housing related services to these
social institutions.
SKILLS DEVELOPMENT AND EMPLOYMENT
OPPORTUNITIES
 The military veterans and people with disability shall be
included, where possible in capacity building programmes as
well as skills development initiatives, including but not limited
to Expanded Public Works Programs (EPWP) in housing delivery.
 The Department shall work in partnership with NHBRC, the
private sector and NGOs to contribute towards the development
and upliftment of the special needs group.
ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES
The Gauteng Department of Local Government and Housing must:
 Play a critical role in fast-tracking the implementation of the policy;
 Ensure construction of structures that respond to special needs issues
 Work closely with other departments to succeed in the creation of
sustainable human settlements.
 Do everything within its power to assist municipalities to meet their
obligations under this policy;
 Reserve, and allocate funds from its annual budget allocation and
manage, disburse and control funds allocated for approved applicants,
in accordance with an agreement with each municipality; and
 In collaboration with the Department of Health and Social Development
monitor the implementation of the policy by a municipality.
ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES
Municipalities must ensure:
 Housing planning and projects initiated by municipalities must include
special needs issues.
The Gauteng Department of Health and Social Development must:
 Advise the Department of Local Government and Housing on available
grants that can assist people living with a disability, aged and orphans.
 Devise a system of referral between Local Government and Housing and
Health and Social Developments to achieve sustainable human
settlement.
Non-Governmental Organisations should:
 Play an advisory role in identifying and addressing the scale of housing
needs on the ground.
TYPICAL DEBATES DURING POLICY DEVELOPMENT
CORE
NATIONAL
POLICY ISSUES
SOCIAL
FACTORS
QUALIFICATION
CRITERIA





Demand database vs the special needs policy;
Delinking vs Disability
National Housing Code
Monitoring and Evaluation
Provision or enabling?
 Parents remarrying
 Aged vs early retirement
 Aged: Different tenure options considering life expectancy issues;
 HIV sufferers: A chronic disease
 Child Headed Households (CHH): A comprehensive approach must be
taken. AIDS orphans and other categories.
 Disability: How comprehensively do we go (mental vs physical)? Issues
of 50% productivity vs Employability? Priority/ranking of disability (the
deaf, blind, etc.)
 Military veterans vs Other categories
 Caregivers: What if benefitted previously?
THANK YOU