Assessing the housing policy framework in promoting inclusionary housing developments

摘要

The South African housing policy framework as reflected in the various national legislation, policies and regulations has been regarded as progressive. This is because the policy framework has resulted in the delivery of millions houses across the country in the urban and rural centers. What has not been clear, is whether the housing policy framework has been able to deal with access to housing in general including providing opportunities across different housing income bands (lower income, middle income and inclusionary housing) The current housing policy framework therefore, has not succeeded in promoting inclusionary housing schemes. There are various constraints which have been identified as stumbling blocks towards providing housing opportunities for all. There are also specific policy proposals which require responsibility from private sector, government and communities to play their role in terms promoting inclusionary housing. Internationally, it has been accepted, such as in the case of United States and other countries that have experimented with inclusionary housing that for the scheme to succeed, there is a need for government to legislate as well as proving general guidelines regarding implementation of such programmes. The paper concludes that the general feeling by stakeholders is that government need to do much more to ensure that they do not only provide free low cost housing; but also to appreciate the way in which ordinary civil servants such as policemen, firefighters can benefit from the housing process. Inclusionary housing should be seen as one in a range of housing instruments (rental housing, project linked housing and others housing programmes) to address access to housing and integration of communities across incomes. The success of the housing policy will only be judged in its implementation; this means there is a need for government to structure institutional, financial and technical mechanisms that can ensure the success of inclusionary housing.