PRESENTATION TO THE PORT FOLIO COMMITTEE SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT THE NATIONAL HOUSING PROGRAMME AND THE RIGHTS OF CHILDREN

Background We acknowledge the housing need of destitute children Indicators are that 3% of all hh are child- headed households Non-urban areas seems to be most affected Very few cases parents make arrangements Current assistance are provided by NGO’s, informal arrangements, formal arrangements and home based care

Background The State has a Constitutional obligation The extended family arrangement is fading In regard to property: –Children’s rights are violated –They are evicted due to non-payment –They are excluded from the mainstream housing programme

Background Parents by and large die intestate The Master of the Supreme Court must make ruling on the succession matter Where a will exists, the Master must still rule on administration where only minors are left These case are very seldom reported- informality creates various problems

Services we deliver The Department does not render any services in terms of the Child Care Act,1983 The current Housing Programme furthermore does not specifically cater for the housing needs of children These housing needs are regarded the responsibility of the Department of Social Development as it constitutes a special housing need The services we delivered to date were thus indirect- through the family concept

Services we deliver All new housing programmes have been designed to at least accommodate children that are destitute This has been done in the new Emergency Housing Programme and the Informal Settlement upgrading programme that move away from the qualifying beneficiary concept towards a community or areas based approach However it needs to be further developed as it is based on foster care or guardianship arrangements.

IMPACT OF CHILDREN’S BILL The Department is in the process of assessing the implications of the Bill on the housing programme The impact of the Bill on the Housing programme is that it further entrenches the right to shelter The Department is of the opinion that special housing needs remain the responsibility of the Department of Social Development as in the case of the elderly and persons requiring institutionalised care

IMPACT OF CHILDREN’S BILL However the issue of the capital programme to finance facilities to house children perhaps requires interrogation The Department will soon launch an investigation on the needs of child headed households The investigation will address two dimensions:

IMPACT OF CHILDREN’S BILL In the first instance the investigation will address the plight of current beneficiaries- child headed households –What can we do to protect the rights of these children but also to protect the State’s investment –The matter pertains to intestate deaths and wills, guardianship and foster care arrangements

IMPACT OF CHILDREN’S BILL Secondly the research will deal with: –The issue of responsibility for capital assistance programmes to house children in a variety of ways –This could include institutionalised care, special arrangements of home care, group housing schemes and a combination of options The investigation will commence early in 2005

Current programme provisions The current programme provides for children to access assistance in cases of emergencies as well as in the case of the informal settlement upgrading initiatives However assistance will have to be arranged in collaboration with local welfare institutions and guidance and through formal arrangements such as guardianship and/or foster care

Current programme provisions The new programmes therefore does not disqualify children from accessing the assistance provided but it require enhancement The policy research and deliberations will include participation of the Department of Social Development The Department will also establish a special needs unit on its structure to provide dedicated attention to these cases.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION