1.Background To ensure that persons with certain disabilities are awarded the opportunity to live independently in subsidy financed houses, the National

1. Background• To ensure that persons with certain

disabilities are awarded the opportunity to live independently in subsidy financed houses, the National Housing Policy was adjusted in 1999 to provide for special enhancements to the subsidy houses of Persons with disabilities.

Houses for People with Disabilities

2. Policy changes effected:• The following needs were taken into account:– Persons with walking aids;– Persons with partial usage of wheel chair;– Full time usage of wheelchair;– Partially/profound deaf;– Partially/ totally blind;– Partially/ totally movement loss/ paralysis in upper

body limbs


• Policy changes effected:• The following enhancements are available

depending on nature of disability:– Access to house via 12m2 paving and a ramp;– Kick plates to doors;– Hand and grab rails;– Lever action taps;– 1 m vinyl folding door for bathroom;– increase of bathroom size (at expense of other

rooms)


• Policy changes effected:– Visual door bell indicator;– Slip resistant floor finishing;– Colour contrast on doorways, stairs corners and

skirting walls;

• A system of categories apply and upon certification of disability by medical practitioner, the MEC approves an increase in the subsidy amount to finance the additions/ enhancements to the specific house.


• The policy on the enhancements to the dwellings applies to new planned dwellings as well as existing dwellings;

• A subsidy beneficiary may thus apply for the additional subsidy funding in the case where he/her or his/her family member become disabled, whether or not a previous subsidy was awarded.


• Funding availability:• R12 073,00 is made available for

improvements to a house for a person with wheelchair dependency; and

• R4 091,00 for a visible door bell indicator;


• Current developments• The department is aware of complaints

regarding the size of the dwelling and especially the bathroom;

• We have appointed a consortium of experts to design and cost various housing products, including a bigger house for persons with wheelchair dependencies;


• Current developments• The final results of the costing project is

expected at the end of October 2012 and in terms of planning, proposals will be submitted to Human Settlements MINMEC in November 2012


• Funding arrangements• The annual Human Settlements Development Grant allocation

is fully allocated to the nine provincial governments in terms of an approved allocation formula.

• The provinces, in collaboration with the municipalities, are responsible to reserve funding for the various national housing programmes;

• Funding for the enhancement of houses for Persons with disabilities are not separately budgeted;

• Funding for the enhancement of houses for Persons with disabilities are determined upfront per project based, on socio-economic surveys and/or the needs registers;

• The policy only allows for an individual beneficiary approach;


• Funding arrangements• It is not economically viable to enhance a

predetermined number of houses per housing project;

• The fiscus only allows for a confirmed individual case approach. (Socio-economic surveys and needs establishment must be accurate);

• As indicated, when circumstances change in a household the family can re-apply for the additional funds to improve the dwelling.


• A total of 1413 people with disabilities have been provided with houses in all provinces, at an additional cost of R17,506 681 for enhancements as at 31 July 2012

• The nature of disability is mainly walking – 54.64% of the beneficiaries received walking aid– 37.58% were allocated wheel chair for full time

usage, and– 7.78% were allocated wheel chairs for part time

usage


Houses for People with DisabilitiesProvince Nature of disability

Number of Beneficiaries

Additional Disability Amount Paid

Eastern Cape Walking 64 R633,452

Free State Walking 151 R1,694,532

Gauteng Province Walking 79 R383,671

Kwa-Zulu Natal Walking 100 R346,949

Limpopo Walking 20 R71,131

MPumalanga Walking 349 R3,482,746

Northern Cape Walking 265 R1,641,018

North West Walking 8 R20,481

Western Cape Walking 377 R9,232,701

Grand Total 1,413 R17,506,681

• The Department is in the process of developing a strategy on the empowerment and participation of people with disabilities in Human Settlements delivery value chain

• Further, establishing Human Settlements Sector Disability Fora throughout the Provinces


Awareness• Social Facilitation conducted during House-

build Projects to create awareness and identify needs;– Community and household profiling enables the

Department to tease out disability issues;– Co-ordinate and facilitate the acquisition of assistive

devises with the involvement of relevant Departments (e.g. Social Development & Health)


Partnership with Departments• The Department participates in the

Interdepartmental Committee on Persons with Disabilities convened by Department of Women, Children and People with Disabilities

• Collaboration with relevant sister Departments ; Provincial Departments of Human Settlements; Local Municipalities on addressing disability issues.


• Depending on the findings of the current design and costing project, a new house typology for disabled beneficiaries may apply with effect from 01 April 2013.

Conclusion

Thank you very much

Documents

1.Background To ensure that persons with certain disabilities are awarded the opportunity to live independently in subsidy financed houses, the National