Partnership to help shack dwellers

Tag : Cellphone Housing


Informal settlement residents who want to improve their homes butdon't qualify for bank loans could benefit from a new partnershipbetween a non-profit organisation and a micro-finance institute.

Ikhaya Lami, a non-profit organisation (NPO) based in Nyanga, hasbeen providing equipment and services for an affordable housingdesign that is easy to transport, quick to assemble and comes withextras including environmentally friendly alternative technology.

Andy Bolnick, the brainchild behind and head of the project,announced that micro-finance institution Kuyasa Fund, set up toimprove housing conditions for poor people across the province, hascome on board to provide funds for people to access these homes.

The partnership was launched on Saturday when the Kuyasa offices inNyanga were opened, next to a string of "show houses" along NewEisleben Road.

Bolnick said the project would allow people to improve their livesand living spaces.

"It's better than a shack. It also lifts up the poorer communitiesor gives them a start or a shelter, even if it's temporarily.

"It's a really good start for a family as the finance can alsoallow them to expand their existing homes."

"It's affordable and we found that people really like it."

Some of the structures have three rooms, while others have two.

Pricing starts at about R5 000 for a basic 10 square metrestructure.

The walls are made of 0,5mm galvanised or corrugated fibre cementsheeting.

Buyers can opt for Nutec fibre cement for the interior, whichimproves insulation and is fire resistant.

Other options include solar lighting, a solar powered geyser systemand a dri-toilet with a soak-away and a sun-dry area for waste.

The structures range from 10 to 40 square metres. People can buythem in sections, with or without a thick slab of concrete, thebase or foundation of the unit.

Solar lighting costs about R1 250, includes a cellphone chargingmechanism, and can last for about five hours a night.

"We need to sell to NGOs and the private sector," said Bolnick.

Cape Town-based Kuyasa focuses on supporting community groups andencourages people to save towards housing.

They also grant loans to individuals who qualify for governmentsubsidised homes.

Kuyasa clients, who earn under R3 500 a month or are informallyemployed, are eligible for loans of up to R10 000.

Executive director of the fund, Olivia van Rooyen, said the projectwas a "useful thing" for their operation and that it would allowsome families to expand and have more space available.

She said their clients were generally "under the radar" and thatthey had a better chance of getting a loan from Kuyasa than thebigger financial institutions.

"Our clients are under the whip in terms of inflationimplications," she said.

Ikhaya Lami, established three years ago, is linked to various NGOsincluding the Federation of the Urban Poor (Fedup).

They work together in trying to cater to the housing needs ininformal settlements.

Fedup member Nolita Fani said she knew the project would besuccessful.

"Our people are staying in shacks that are in a bad condition andit is winter so the rains will seep through. This will be good forthem, especially with the floods."

A potential customer, who viewed the structures on Monday, said hethought the prices for the building materials were reasonable andthat he would return after pay day.