Comments on DHS 2012 Strategic Plan (with specific reference to ‘Special Needs Housing’) 18 April 2012 Community Law Centre and Centre for Disability Law & Policy University of the Western Cape

Outline Who are we? Brief overview of Special Needs Housing [SNH] What is the current problem with SNH? What does DHS 2012 Strategic Plan say about SNH? Our recommendations –to DHS (national) –this Honorable Committee

CLC Background Human rights institute Research, education and advocacy Projects include - –Socio-Economic Rights Project –Children’s Rights Project –Parliamentary Programme Previous work on SNH

CDLP Background Institute focusing on disability law & policy Established at UWC in 2009 Research, education and training Work based on Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities –Right to independent living and being included in the community (Art 19) –Accessibility (Art 9)

Special Needs Housing Housing which provides for a range of people in special need, including: –Orphans and vulnerable children –People infected or affected by HIV/ AIDS –Elderly people (including frail care) –People with disabilities (physical, intellectual, psychosocial) –Victims of domestic abuse and family violence –The homeless / those living on the street (including street children, refugees, trafficked people)

Special Needs Housing May include broad range of housing options: –Emergency shelters –Transitional housing (‘2 nd stage’ housing for battered women) –Specialised health care (frail care for elderly persons) –Community group homes (persons with disabilities) –Access to affordable rental housing (‘waiting list’?)

Special Needs Housing SNH delivery mostly at provincial level Mainly in KZN (since 2001), Gauteng, Eastern Cape Provincial DHS ‘adapt’ existing housing delivery mechanisms to approve projects Typically: registered NPOs / welfare organisations working at grassroots level Want to access capital funding from provincial DHS for acquisitions, new builds or renovations Projects viable (eg organisations have skills and capacity to operate and maintain the shelter) Sustainable: support of departments of welfare or health, donors for operational costs Evidence: works! (PPTrust)

What is the Problem? National Housing Code does not provide for SNH as such; nor for development by provinces Small concessions: eg alterations to house Great demand in practice Org’s providing SNH services at grassroots levels do not receive adequate support from provincial DHS, local government Because no national policy on SNH: –Certain provinces reluctant to develop own policy –Lack of clarity on role of transitional subsidy –SNH becomes ‘invisible’ in national planning environment

DHS Strategic Plan 2012 Reflects re-visioning and turnaround Transition in Encouraging: “special and designated group and sector focused programmes to be enhanced” Transition “not excuse for failure to deliver”

DHS Strategic Plan Programme 1: Administration Programme 2: Human Settlement Delivery Frameworks Programme 3: Human Settlements Strategy and Planning Programme 4: Programme and Project Management Unit Programme 5: Office of Chief Fin Officer Programme 6: Office of Chief Operations Officer

DHS Strategic Plan Programme 1: Administration Programme 2: Human Settlement Delivery Frameworks Programme 3: Human Settlements Strategy and Planning Programme 4: Programme and Project Management Unit Programme 5: Office of Chief Fin Officer Programme 6: Office of Chief Operations Officer

Programme 2: HS Delivery Frameworks Consists of three main frameworks: Operational Framework Governance Framework Advisory Services

Programme 2: HS Delivery Frameworks Operational Framework Objectives: –Provide a macro policy framework –Provide a policy development framework –Oversee an accreditation policy framework –Developing a national policy directive on SNH would fit in squarely here

Programme 3: HS Strategy and Planning Three components: Stakeholder and Intergovernmental Relations Human Settlements Planning Human Settlements Strategy Look at each component in turn, emphasise those objectives relevant to SNH -

Programme 3: HS Strategy and Planning Stakeholder and Intergovernmental Relations Objectives: –To implement intergovernmental frameworks –Provide stakeholder mobilization services –To provide for PHP and Community Driven Housing Initiatives National SNH directive – involves provincial departments, stakeholders, grassroots level – all of these

Programme 3: HS Strategy and Planning Human Settlements Planning Objectives: –Provide an implementation planning framework

Programme 3: HS Strategy and Planning Human Settlements Strategy Objectives: –Provide spatial planning and management services –Provide and maintain a human settlements master plan –Provide a human settlements strategy management service Accessible? Sustainable?

Programme 4: Programme and Project Management Unit Programme and Project Planning Programme Implementation Facilitation Programme Monitoring and Evaluation Sanitation Programme Impact on SNH?

Oversight  If you can measure it, you can manage it And, the same time:  If you can’t see it, you can’t plan for it

Our Recommendations To National DHS – –Integrate SNH into all aspects of Strategic Plan, not as marginalised ‘add on’ –Issue a policy directive authorising provinces to develop and implement SNH policies based on existing housing delivery mechanisms –Provide support to provinces in the planning, funding, management and evaluation of the above SNH projects as envisaged in the Strategic Plan

Our Recommendations To this Portfolio Committee – –Inquire from nat DHS about integration of SNH in Strategic Plan and programme plans –Monitor development of nat SNH policy directive –Invite specialist in SNH project development to make presentation on existing projects in KZN, Eastern Cape, Gauteng – eg Project Preparation Trust –Joint sitting: Committee on WCPwD?

Coming Soon… Research project on SNH policies – provincial level, local government Three provinces Recommendations

THANK YOU Contact Details Ms Gladys Mirugi-MukundiDr Helene Combrinck Community Law CentreCentre for Disability Law and Policy Tel: (021)Tel: (021) University of the Western Cape