National Housing Needs Register & Allocation Guidelines

DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SETTLEMENTS

DIRECTOR-GENERALConfidential 1

Content

• Background – History & Current• Approach – Development of NHNR• Implementation• NDHS Role & Responsibility• NHNR Benefits• NHNR Linkages with Human Settlements Delivery

Processes• NHNR Phase 1, 2 & 3• Allocation Guideline Overview

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History - BackgroundHistory - Background

• The previous Minister of Housing (Minister L Sisulu) requested for the development of an Allocation Strategy in 2008;

• To address allegations of mal-administration & fraud regarding the allocation of housing subsidy dwellings that surface during the N2 Gateway project & the media;

• To over come these challenges we have to ensure that the allocation of housing opportunities are done in a:

FairFair TransparentTransparent AuditableAuditable People have confidence in the processPeople have confidence in the process

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History - BackgroundHistory - Background

• The previous Minister of Human Settlements (Minister T Sexwale) requested for the development of register to enable citizens to register their need for adequate shelter;

• Register to be utilized for the allocations of housing opportunities based on the criteria as contained in the Allocation Guideline & provide for provincial specific criteria;

• The National Housing Needs Register (replaced the previous Demand Database) was launched during the Minster’s Budget Speech in 2010 ;

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Background -Current SituationBackground -Current Situation

The current functionality has been enhanced to provide for the following:

• Interface that can be used on different devices e.g. smart phone, table, note book;

• SMS service to enable communication with citizens e.g. acknowledgement that the household has registered their need for adequate shelter, request to update their household information, that they have been selected to benefit on a housing project & need to complete a subsidy application forms;

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Background - Current SituationBackground - Current Situation

• Linkage with HSS that will update the associated records on the NHNR with the household’s status on HSS e.g. captured on HSS, approved to benefit from a housing subsidy

• Some minor enhancements have been completed as well and

• The Department will be conducting testing in the next three weeks to determine if the system function as expected based on the new functionality added.

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Approach - NHNRApproach - NHNR• User Requirements Specifications was obtained via workshops

with various role players;

• Technical specifications was developed based on user requirements, questionnaire & allocation guideline;

• Development completed & tested;

• Records from the Demand Database was transferred to the (NHNR);

• Information session conducted with provincial & municipal role players and

• Training material & program was developed & deployed;

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• Existing records can be imported if the records meet the minimum requirements (location information, physical address, dwelling type, access to water, gender, martial status, relationship of household members etc) :

• Provide National Department with records• National Department conducted an analysis & provide a

detail report• Based on outcome of analysis data can be imported onto

the National Housing Needs Register• Records available on National Housing Needs Register

National Housing Needs Register – Existing National Housing Needs Register – Existing Records – Waiting ListsRecords – Waiting Lists

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• Business - Strategy that address the following• Communication plan:

• Message: registration of need for adequate shelter NOT an application for a subsidy

• Update information to ensure relevance• How will the message be communicated

• Implementation plan:• How will the NHNR be implemented e.g. households

to visit municipal offices / municipal staff to visits households to obtain the required information / mass registration

National Housing Needs Register – National Housing Needs Register – ImplementationImplementation

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• Implementation plan:• Direct capture / physical questionnaire to be

completed• Business Champion

• Owner of the process, manage implementation & maintain

• Ensure that resources are available (budget & people)• Provide reports to other business units & Allocation• Promote the NHNR

• Data Capturers• Staff to capture, update & assist with enquires from public

National Housing Needs Register – National Housing Needs Register – Implementation (continue)Implementation (continue)

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• Link with the province & national:• Training requirements• Data quality• Meetings

• Location information• Provide information - municipality, town & area• Request new areas to be added

• Link with IT

National Housing Needs Register – National Housing Needs Register – Implementation (continue)Implementation (continue)

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• Role of IT• Connectivity - workstation can connect to the internet• Ensure that required infrastructure is in place• Workstations is setup to minimum requirements• Support NHNR Users with IT related issues

IT Requirements is addressed later in the presentation

National Housing Needs Register – National Housing Needs Register – Implementation (continue)Implementation (continue)

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ImplementationImplementation• National Department provide assistance to provinces &

municipalities to develop a strategy for the implementation of the NHNR & Allocation Guidelines:

– Communication (Questionnaire v Subsidy Application) – Approach (Household based, mass registration, area

based, etc)– Resources (Staff & funding)– Roles & Responsibilities (National, Provincial &

Municipal)– Champions (Provincial & Municipal)– Development of provincial specific Allocation Policy

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NDHS Role & ResponsibilityNDHS Role & Responsibility• Maintain guideline, questionnaire & application;

• Support too provinces & municipalities;

• Overview & Information sessions – management;

• Training;

• Data analysis of records outside the NHNR;

• Data Import;

• Review & updating of location information and

• Infrastructure (Servers & Licensing);Confidential 14

National Housing Needs

Register

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Benefits (Medium – Long Term):Benefits (Medium – Long Term):

• Obtain a better understanding of the country’s housing need & backlog;

• Plan & budget better to enabling the delivery of housing based on identified need and

• Understand the dynamics & needs of the potential beneficiaries on a household level;

NHNR- OverviewNHNR- Overview

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NHNR- OverviewNHNR- OverviewBenefits (Short Term):Benefits (Short Term):

• A single integrated database of potential beneficiaries;

• Captured data verified for accuracy;

• Integration with existing provincial data (depending on quality & usability);

• Comprehensive decision making capabilities and

• Aligned reports & statistics on housing needs information from all provinces;;

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National Housing Needs Register - National Housing Needs Register - OverviewOverview

Benefits (Short Term):Benefits (Short Term):

• Allocation of housing opportunities in a manner that greatly reduces mal-practices & corruption;

• Transition to NHNR is seamless & requires :

Internet connectivityInternet connectivityUser attending training session & passUser attending training session & passRegister on HSS Online & NHNRRegister on HSS Online & NHNRComplete User Access Requests formComplete User Access Requests formAccess granted by National DepartmentAccess granted by National Department

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Linkage with Human Settlements Linkage with Human Settlements Delivery ProcessesDelivery Processes

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Delivery Business Model – Delivery Business Model – First LevelFirst Level

Planning and Budgeting

Management

Planning and Budgeting

Management

Project Management

Project Management

Contract Management

Contract Management

Beneficiary Management

Beneficiary Management

Financial Management

Financial Management

Needs assessment

Determine settlement

development status

Planning

Project planning

Project Progress monitoring

Project closure

Acquisition / SCM

Contracting for Design

Facilitation Phase

Facilitate Contracting for

Construction

Housing Needs

Registration

Allocation

Subsidy management

Claims

Payment

Reconciliation

Quality assurance Unit handoverBudgeting

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Planning & Budgeting – 2Planning & Budgeting – 2ndnd level level

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Beneficiary Management – 2Beneficiary Management – 2ndnd level level

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FunctionalityFunctionality NHNR – PHASE 1 NHNR – PHASE 1

CapturingCapturing / / EditingEditing / / ViewingViewingReportingReporting

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Home PageHome Page

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View QuestionnaireView Questionnaire

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Example of Reports Example of Reports (Questionnaires per Province, Municipality and Town)(Questionnaires per Province, Municipality and Town)

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Example of ReportsExample of Reports(Dwelling Type)(Dwelling Type)

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FunctionalityFunctionality NHNR – PHASE 2 NHNR – PHASE 2

SearchesSearchesCreateCreate / / SubmitSubmit / / View View

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Phase 2 – Search ServicePhase 2 – Search Service• Results are available and can be sorted in the grid

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FunctionalityFunctionality NHNR – PHASE 3 NHNR – PHASE 3

AllocationAllocationCriteriaCriteria / / SelectSelect/ / ReviewReview/ / CommitCommit

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Phase 3 – Selection CriteriaPhase 3 – Selection Criteria• AllocationsAllocations can be created based on selected criteria

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Phase 3 – Selection CriteriaPhase 3 – Selection Criteria• AllocationsAllocations can be viewed as reports

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Allocation Guideline

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Approach – Allocation GuidelineApproach – Allocation Guideline• The policy directorate at a national level assisted with the

development of the guideline;

• Guideline was work shopped with provincial departments of human settlements;

• Presented to Portfolio Committee on Human Settlements;

• Finalized & circulated to relevant role players, indicating that provincial policies need to be developed based on the content of the guideline in conjunction with municipalities and

• Questionnaire that need to be completed by households registering their need for adequate shelter;

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Salient features of the Strategy

• The allocation process has been depoliticized;

• A fair, transparent & auditable process for the selection of potential beneficiaries was introduced;

• Priority criteria have been introduced;

• Provides guidelines for each National Housing Programme; and

• It is directly linked to the National Housing Needs Register;

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• Qualification Criteria– The entry level & general criteria of the subsidy

scheme still apply;– Programme specific criteria also still apply;

• Priority criteria were introduced:– The Aged &disabled;– Families and– Women headed households with children;

Salient features of the Strategy

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• Persons registered on the National Housing Needs Register do not automatically qualify for subsidies;

• Persons on the Register will be invited to complete application forms when housing opportunities become available;

• All applications so received will be subject to verification & a structured evaluation & approval process

Salient features of the Strategy

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• It applies to housing opportunities created through:

– Integrated Residential Development Programme (IRDP) and

– The Upgrading of Informal Settlements programme

Application of the Strategy

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• The guidelines do not apply to:

– The individual Subsidy programmes;– Consolidation subsidies;– PHP subsidies and– Rental housing programmes (occupancy).

Application of the Strategy

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Institutional ArchitectureThe guidelines suggest the following role players:

• The Allocation Committee (AC);• The Provincial Departments of Human Settlements;• The Municipality;• The National Department (optional);• The Project Manager &• External auditors, where applicable.

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• The Allocation Committee must:

– As a minimum comprise of the following public sector officials:

• Two members - Office of the City Manager; • Two members - Provincial Department of Human

Settlements– Chair is from the Office of the City Manager

– May not include any political office bearer.

Institutional Architecture

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Allocation process• When houses/opportunities become available:

– The municipality will determine the selection criteria to apply for the specific project- region, priority status etc.;

– It will request the province to obtain a list of potential beneficiaries from the National Needs Register that meet the set criteria;

– Once received, the AC will verify the list & request the project manager to contact the persons on the list & invite them to apply for housing subsidies;

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Allocation process

– The PM will liaise with each applicant in collecting all the documents and the selection of stands and houses;

– Application documents may not be older that six months;

– The applications received will be assessed by the AC against the list and

– The applications are then submitted to the MEC for approval.

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THANK YOU

“We have come a long way – Celebrating 20 Years of Freedom!”

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