EC PROVINCIAL DEPT PRIORITISES DESTITUTE BENEFICIARIES
EAST LONDON --------Eastern Cape MEC for Human Settlements, Ms Helen Sauls-August has announced that 27 blind families from Dimbaza are some of the destitute people set to benefit from the houses built through the destitute and vulnerable group’s programme of the Provincial Department of Human Settlements this year. A total of 754 destitute families made up of military veterans, the elderly, disabled and child headed families are all set to get houses this year.
A contractor has been appointed to prioritize houses for the 27 visually impaired beneficiaries of Dimbaza R4.4 million will be spent on building houses specifically designed for the disabled and visually impaired persons. Thousands of destitute families have benefited from this programme since its establishment in 2011.
The MEC has issued directives which are being implemented this financial year. “The allocation of houses in a project will comprise of 20% of houses to the destitute people; 10% for military veterans, 2 % to disabled people and 10% for the youth with dependants; 58% wherein the most senior citizens who have never benefitted before will be prioritized,” she said. She said the focus will be on the need rather than the general right to adequate shelter working closely with the Department of Social Development in the database cross- referencing.
The department will continue to build houses for military veterans in Lukhanji under Chris Hani District, Chatty under Nelson Mandela Metro and in various villages of OR Tambo District.
“We have observed that other provinces are adopting our strategy of prioritizing the destitute and vulnerable persons by restoring their dignity with quality homes,” MEC Helen Sauls-August added.
All municipalities are expected to establish housing allocations committees whose responsibility will be to ensure there is fairness and transparency on the allocation of houses amongst different groups taking into account gender, youth, women and other vulnerable groups.
