Hostel conversion through the Institutional Housing Subsidy as affordable housing: case study of the Sethokga Pilot Project, Gauteng, South Africa
Abstract
English: Existing government policies and programmes promote the redevelopment
of single sex public hostels to provide family units as a sustainable form of
housing for the poor in South Africa. A survey was carried out among residents
of Sethokga hostel in preparation of a pilot conversion project with funding
via the Institutional Housing Subsidy. The survey revealed that low pay and high
unemployment contributed to real fears among residents about their ability to
afford rent for the upgraded accommodation, and the possibility of displace
ment, and even eviction as a result. The expressed need therefore, appeared
to be for flexible funding arrangements that allow for affordable accommo
dation options not limited to family units, ranging from single rooms to apart
ments for sub letting and sharing, an option which would not be possible with
the use of the Institutional Housing Subsidy as the sole funding instrument. Afrikaans: Bestaande regeringsbeleid en programme moedig die herontwikkeling van
openbare hostelle vir enkellopendes na gesinseenhede aan as ’n volhoubare
vorm van behuising vir armes in Suid Afrika. ’n Opname is gedoen onder in
woners van die Sethokga hostel ter voorbereiding van ’n omskeppings loods
projek wat deur middel van die Institusionele Behuising Subsidie bevonds sal
word. Die opname het getoon dat lae besoldiging en hoë vlakke van werk
loosheid bygedra het tot ware besorgdheid by inwoners oor hul vermoë om
die verhoogde huurgeld vir die verbeterde verblyf te bekostig asook vrese oor
gevolglike ontworteling en uitsetting. Die uitgesproke behoefte blyk derhalwe
te wees vir meer buigsame bevondsingsmetodes wat voorsiening maak vir be
kostigbare verblyfsopsies wat nie beperk is tot gesinseenhede nie, en wat strek
van enkelkamers tot woonstelle vir onderverhuring en gedeelde inwoning, ’n
opsie wat nie moontlik sou wees met die Institusionele Behuising Subsidie as
enigste bevondingsinstrument nie.