Comments on DHS 2012 Strategic Plan

(with specific reference to ‘Special Needs Housing’)

18 April 2012

Community Law Centre and Centre for Disability Law & PolicyUniversity 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 (‘2nd 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 2012-2013• 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: AdministrationProgramme 2: Human Settlement Delivery FrameworksProgramme 3: Human Settlements Strategy and PlanningProgramme 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 StrategyLook 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-Mukundi Dr Helene Combrinck

Community Law Centre Centre for Disability Law and Policy

Tel: (021) Tel: (021) 959-3298

Email: gmirugi-mukundi@uwc.ac.za Email: hcombrinck@uwc.ac.za

University of the Western Cape