1. PRESENTATION TO THE PORT -FOLIO COMMITTEE ON HOUSING
THE NATIONAL HOUSING SUMMIT

2. 1. Objective of the Summit
The Theme Was:
Re-establishing Partnerships for Sustainable Development.
The objectives were to:
look, listen and decide on what the future housing policy and research agenda should entail

3. 2. Structure of the Summit
The Summit was conducted on the basis panel discussions on specific themes
The seven themes were:
Theme 1: Urbanisation and informal settlements
Theme 2: Urban regeneration and social housing
Theme 3: Housing needs and rights to housing
Theme 4: Participation and partnerships
Theme 5: Quality housing delivery systems
Theme 6: Housing finance
Theme 7: Capacity building for effective delivery

4. 3. Theme 1: Urban-rural Linkages and Informal Settlement
The Census can provide valuable information for policy consideration process.
The challenges are integrated development, addressing affordability, promoting a secondary housing market and addressing HIV/AIDS

5. Theme 2: Urban Regeneration and Social Housing
Social housing can play a significant role in this regard
Government Departments will have to approach development on coordinated basis
The current capital subsidy for social housing needs revision

6. Theme 3: Housing Needs
Special housing needs for those infected by HIV/AIDS and the disabled were one again emphasised at the Summit
Government’s housing development strategy is moving towards a demand-driven approach as apposed to the previous supply driven regime

7. Theme 4: Participation and Partnerships
There is overall support for partnerships and the participation of communities
A request was made for an Office on Women
BIFSA offered expertise and the ability to deliver at scale
Sustainable housing delivery are not exclusively the domain of housing

8. Theme 5: Quality Housing Delivery Systems
Government’s shift to quality housing was emphasised
Quality should also include quality environments
For low-income housing, there is always the tension between profit and quality, making monitoring of compliance essential.

9. Theme 6: Housing Finance
The Banking Sector indicated a new commitment to low-income housing finance through the Financial Services Charter (FSC)
The Government was urged to also look at other models that help the poor,
The capacity of poor households to mobilise savings for building their own houses was also illustrated
Government is conscious that the initial commitment by the financial sector through the Botshabelo Accord has not been fully implemented and it welcomed the FSC.

10. Theme 7: Capacity Building for effective Delivery
The importance of capacity building in the provision of housing and infrastructure was stressed
The most important point that emerged is the need for partnerships in capacity building.

11. 4. Recommendations from the Summit
A need for a differentiated and flexible informal settlement upgrading/development policy;
An enabling policy environment and a new vision for social housing;
A redefinition of the notion of sustainability and the introduction of protocols for synchronising the activities and investments of government departments;
The use of planning instruments and partnerships to make land markets work better for the poor;

12. 4. Recommendations from the Summit continue
Legislation on property and inheritance rights for children in a context of HIV/AIDS and provision for child-headed households in existing housing policy instruments;
A policy framework to more specifically address the housing needs of the disabled, including a revision of targeted allocation of projects to the disabled by 2007;
The establishment of an Office on Women in the Department and formal, quarterly meeting to ensure ongoing dialogue;

13. 4. Recommendations from the Summit continue
Partnerships with BIFSA based on the strengths and contributions of the different parties;
Representation of the Department of Housing on the Public Works Steering Committee;
Simplify PHP documentation and develop a housing partnership approach through the PHP;

14. 4. Recommendations from the Summit continue
Increased consultation with organisations of poor people, especially around policy change;
Speed up the issuing of title deeds registration
Unblock the release of some R47m in housing subsidies to the South African Homeless People’s Federation

15. 5. The way forward
The National Housing Summit, the results of the preceding consultation process and the results of the recent evaluation of the Housing Subsidy Programme by the Public Service Commission will now be taken forward in the development of a housing policy and research agenda for the medium to longer term.

16. 5. The way forward
This will enable the Department to align the Multi Year Housing Development Plan with the said agendas and
The alignment thereof with provincial multi year housing development plans will subsequently be pursued.