Special Needs Housing

Programmes & Projects - Programmes & Projects

Page Updated on 13 February 2012

Programme focus

Special needs housing has been a major focus for PPT since 2002. PPT has played a significant role at both the project and policy levels over this period. This programme focuses on the provision of housing (shelter) for a range of special needs beneficiaries such as orphans and vulnerable children, the chronically ill or those with disabilities.

The main focus is to assist welfare organisations working at grassroots level to access capital funding from provincial Departments of Human Settlement for acquisitions, new builds or renovations. Care is taken to ensure that projects are viable and sustainable (e.g. that organisations have the necessary skills and capacity to operate and maintain the project), that initiatives are operationally sustainable, and that the relevant government departments dealing with welfare or health are supportive. Projects have historically been located mainly in KwaZulu Natal, Eastern Cape and Gauteng but with some involvement in the Western Cape.

Capital funding approvals secured:
Rand value:	40,386,019
Number of projects:	35
Number of households:	852
Projects under preparation:
Rand value:	65,930,446
Number of projects:	34
Number of households:	1,426

Definition of Special Needs Housing:

Special Needs Housing is housing which provides accommodation and shelter to any of the following especially vulnerable groups of people:

Infected or affected by HIV/AIDS
Orphans and vulnerable children (OVCs)
Seriously ill
Old and infirm (Including frail care)
Physical disabilities
Intellectual and psychiatric disabilities
Homeless / on the street (children, adults, refugees, trafficked people)
Victims of domestic abuse and violence
Under Substance rehabilitation
Parolees, ex-offenders and juvenile offenders

PPT's Special Needs Housing projects guidelines:

Several provinces have Special Needs Housing policies or programmes in place where the transitional subsidy mechanism is utilized (a variation of the institutional subsidy). These provinces includes KZN, Eastern Cape, Western Cape and Gauteng. The involvement and support of the relevant departments of Health or Social Development is always necessary and there is an emphasis on promoting community-based and family-orientated care (although institutional care is also accommodated when necessary).

Click here to access PPT's guidelines for the preparation of Special Needs Housing projects.

PPT’s Involvement in Special Needs Housing:

PPT has extensive experience in preparing a range of special needs housing projects including community foster care homes, places of safety, children’s homes and hospices. PPT also very works closely with a range of key stakeholders in this regard, including grassroots NPO’s, departments of Human Settlements, Social Development and Health, municipalities and funders.

Click here to view PPT's complete Special Needs Housing Projects list.

Special Needs Housing Forum National Submission

PPT in partnership with eThekwini Municipality made a submission to the National Department of Housing in July 2005 in order to assist in facilitating the establishment of national guidelines or a national policy for the provision of subsidies for Special Needs Housing (including HIV AIDS relief). This submission provided feedback to the National Department of Housing in the form of a framework and guidelines based on practical, on-the-ground experience gained from numerous projects in eThekwini Municipality and greater KwaZulu Natal which have utilised KwaZulu Natal Department of Housing Subsidies.

Click here to read the Framework for the Provision of Housing Subsidies for Special Needs Housing submitted by PPT and eThekwini Municipality to the National Department of Housing.