Programmes

Overview

Section 2 of the Housing Act, 1997 (Act No. 107 of 1997) compels all three spheres of government to give priority to the needs of the poor in housing development [section 2(1)(a)]. As such, all three spheres of government must ensure that housing development:

  • Provides as wide a choice of housing and tenure options as is reasonably possible
  • Is economically, fiscally, socially and financially affordable and sustainable
  • Is based on integrated development planning
  • Is administered in a transparent, accountable and equitable manner, and, upholds the practice of good governance (Section 2(1)(c)).

The Department aims to ensure the provision of integrated sustainable human settlements in the Free State through:

  • Ensuring effective planning of housing and sustainable human settlements.
  • Promoting effective and efficient provision of housing opportunities through the national and provincial housing programmes
  • Building the institutional human resource capacity towards providing integrated sustainable human settlements.

The Department approaches its housing function with a national view that housing can become the catalyst for creating sustainable human settlements. The issue is, what other sustainability challenges can be addressed simultaneously through housing delivery and management? In effect, the housing challenge ceases to be a question of the number of housing units delivered each year. Instead, housing delivery and habitation are translated
into a vehicle to achieve multiple goals and outcomes over and above the basic requirement for shelter.

Sustainability in housing and human settlement can be understood in terms of four pillars that support sustainable development. Projects should:

  • Address environmental challenge
  • Generate economic empowerment
  • Enhance social capital; and
  • Build institutional capacity

Enquiries: Ms Carol Tladi
E-mail: carol@fshs.gov.za