Abstract
This paper introduces the PHP (People’s Housing Process) approach to housing provision in South-Africa as a noteworthy third way that allows housing provision for the urban poor. In this contribution we will illustrate how, in an assisted approach of self-help housing, the government can play an important role in safeguarding the production of homes rather than merely providing dwellings. In doing so taking into account the more intangible and symbolic meaning of the house and home, which we argue is a central factor for a sustainable housing strategy. This assisted self-help housing scheme was approved in 1998 and was inspired by the work of the homeless people’s federation and saving and housing schemes from around the globe. The further development of the scheme has been a challenging process but we argue that the PHP programme deserves more attention as a housing provision mechanism. Additionally, one of the strengths of the PHP approach is its applicability in a wider area of project types, from township upgrading to hostel redevelopment projects, and illustrated in this contribution by introducing the hostel redevelopment poject Ilinge Labahlali in Cape Town. In what follows, the PHP approach is introduced, and the increasing interest of the government illustrated. Then, using two case studies, the importance of the assistance of the government and NGOs is elaborated upon. In conclusion the challenges that still need to be met are highlighted.
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Notes
The choice to rename the policy in 2008 was done in order to emphasise the fact that the policy has undergone a serious ‘restyling’, although it might suggest that new ideas and choices were taken it was actually more a re-calibration with its initial core values. In the article we will predominantly use the term PHP, the term ePHP will be used in relation to the recalibration of the programme.
The housing type that was being built all over South-Africa in the first period after 1994, using this one-off capital subsidy is often referred to as RDP house (Reconstruction and development Programme).
Since 1994 the backlog has increased from 1.5 to 2.1 million people (Bradlow et al. 2011).
This might be because of the strong presence of active NGOs such as the DAG and the SAHPF. The SAHPF had been established in 1994 (and changed its name in 2006 to FEDUP), and represented all its member organisations, which were autonomous local ‘voluntary associations’. The core, or as Bauman et al. (2004) phrases it, ‘the glue’, of the organisation are the savings and credit schemes. At present, the Federation of the Urban Poor (FED UP) is the largest support organisation, and assists the poor to access their housing rights by a self-help approach. The DAG (Development Action Group), an NGO based in Cape Town and active in housing provision since 1989, has used the PHP since 1997.
Because of the apartheid legacy the ‘labeling of people’ according to colour is a difficult matter, as on the one hand it might seem unethical to put people into different categories, while on the other hand, population group affiliations are still being used on a daily basis and official institutions still work with these terms. In this article the terms blacks, coloured, Indian/Asians and whites are used. But additionally we want to emphasise that we fully agree with Mohanty’s statement about the use of these kinds of terminologies and we acknowledge that “we are still working with a very imprecise and inadequate analytical language. All we can have access to at given moments is the analytical language that most clearly approximates the features of the world as we understand it” (Mohanty 2002, p. 506).
“Community development” in Xhosa.
Before 2001, the responsibility for the grey hostel sector fell into the city’s Tenure Options Programme. In 2001 it was integrated in the SHU.
Residents of Bonita (formerly Parmalat Dairy) hostel were the first to join the coop followed by PenBev (Coca Cola) residents. Afterwards the residents from Frankipile, Watertite and Racec hostels enrolled. The last to join were the residents from the Eskom hostels.
More information on the NGO coalition of the ‘PHP reference group’ can be found in Carey (2009).
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Newton, C. The peoples housing process … getting the quality in the quantity?. J Hous and the Built Environ 28, 639–651 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10901-013-9349-2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10901-013-9349-2