National Department of Housing

and

Housing Atlas

http://www.housing.gov.za

and

http://www.housing.gov.za/Content/
Housing%20Atlas%2005/index.htm

Informal Settlement Handbook

(Provincial Department of Local Government and Housing, Western Cape)

Housing Institutions

http://www.housing.gov.za/Content/
housing_institutions/housing_institutions.htm

access these institutions contact information via the housing department website. in many cases it is easier to use this contact information to call, visit or write to the relevant housing institution than rely entirely on their websites - some of which have sections of complex information which may require explanation.

Communities seeking formal housing should also consider engaging the business sector together with their local government to form investment partnerships with communities playing a more active role in delivery.

Read about Gauteng's People's Housing Process:
http://www.gpg.gov.za/frames/nz0922a-f.html

The Department of Housing has also "established the following national institutions to facilitate the specific housing and housing-related needs": 

National Home Builders Registration Council (NHBRC)

National Housing Finance Corporation (NHFC)
borrow money for your own home...Success of the NHFC: "The NHFC approved R1,9 billion in facilities and disbursed R1,7 billion by 31 March 2004. Through lending activities, 46 794 new housing units have been built, and over 173 881 loans originated, and therefore 220 675 housing opportunities have been created by the corporation since inception"

National Urban and Reconstruction Agency (NURCHA)
Focus: Financing Low Income Housing

People's Housing Partnership Trust (PHPT)
Focus: Urban and Rural Poor families are assisted via capital subsidies to build their own homes. "also assists people to obtain access to technical, financial, logistical and administrative support to build their own homes, on either an individual or a collective basis"

Rural Housing Loan Fund (RHLF)
This fund works as a "rural housing wholesale lending institution" enabling "financial arrangements and opportunities for rural families to improve their housing, economic and living environment"

SERVCON

Social Housing Foundation (SHF)
Focus: Improving quality and safety of social housing.(Not directly useful to individuals trying to build or buy homes as they focus on the housing industry as a sector in the efforts to assist social housing delivery. The Products and Services section offers interesting case studies of the SHF work as well as issues of co-operative housing and landlords that may be useful to community projects)

Thubelisha Homes
Focus: Purchase and develop housing stock. Assists government to deliver correctly targeted housing types in areas of need. Useful website for those interested in job creation and engaging the organization in public and private partnerships.

Information on the system of owning land or property (houses included) in South Africa i.e. deeds registration process

For additional information on Land/property rights and registration (easy to read overview) visit:
http://www.cliffedekker.co.za/literature/invest/propregs.htm

Integrated Serviced Land Project
(Provincial Department of Local Government and Housing, Western Cape)

The ISLP website provides a lot of information about this presidential project. The project will be channeling R1.4 billion into socio-economic development in informal settlements in and around Cape Town. Approximately 40,000 families are expected to benefit from this integrated development project which will target: housing, clinics,schools, community centres, libraries and sports facilitates. The project encourages community participation and feedback. A useful site for business opportunities as well as learning about the development in your area (lf you live in the targeted area)

Also check out the N2 Gateway Project, Western Cape (plus public information document)

Habitat for Humanity
(Active globally including South Africa)

How Habitat works: "Through volunteer labor and donations of money and materials, Habitat builds and rehabilitates simple, decent houses with the help of the homeowner (partner) families. Habitat houses are sold to partner families at no profit, financed with affordable, no-interest loans." Homeowners' monthly housing loan repayments are used to build still more Habitat houses. "Habitat is not a giveaway program. In addition to a down payment and the monthly mortgage (housing loan) payments, homeowners invest hundreds of hours of their own labor -- sweat equity -- into building their Habitat house and the houses of others". Houses are "simple, decent, and affordable to low-income families"