Housing Pre-Finance Loans: Various Locations - Rehoboth

Deliverables:

All one hundred and twenty-one (121) house have been constructed by the seven (7) savings groups, one of which is in Rehoboth, who received financial support. The groups in Kalkfeld have installed services to the twenty-three (23) houses that they constructed. This was undertaken in order to meet the government housing requirements. An application has been made through the Regional Council,to provide electricity to all the houses that have been built. The installations are in their final stages. 

Community capacity:

Construction of the houses is managed by the groups themselves. Most of the members produce their own bricks to construct the houses and also do their own excavations. Financial assistance to help fund construction has been obtained through the Build Together Program. Group members will build their capacity to manage loan repayments and organize regular reporting sessions on their progress. Regional networks will support these loan activities through exchanges. 

Scale:

Currently plans are in place to scale up the project to construct one thousand (1,000) houses per year. This can only be realised once money has been secured from the State. The scaling up plans were presented to the National Planning Commission during the National Development Plan 4 (NDP4) preparation.

Impact:

Communities have demonstrated the capacity to deliver housing projects to scale by managing their own projects. This project will assist with the scaling up of housing projects, which in turn will help with negotiations for a funding increase from the State.

SDI Contributions:

SDI's capital contribution to the project is US$124,000. An additional US$13,500 was provided for technical assistance.The total project contribution was US$137,500. 

Resources Leveraged:

In Luderitz, Karas the key stakeholders participated in a brick making event for twenty (20) houses. This event also involves the Minister of Regional and Local Government, Housing and Rural Development (RLGHRD). The event was organised by SDFN/NHAG, MRLGHRD, Luderitz Town Council, Karas Regional Council and Pupkewitz Megabuild.  As a result of the event, the Luderitz Town Council provides building sand to groups at no cost and mobilization of communities has intensified with Council support. Omaruru municipality provided sand for half of the standard price. The Namibia Housing Action Group (NHAG) supported groups building houses by facilitating negotiations for reduction of prices on building materials when purchased in bulk purchases. Cement was bought directly from the manufacture which further cut costs down.

State Subsidy:

The State subsidy came in the form of reduced, and in some cases no cost, of sand.

Market Generated Returns:

None to date.

Costs recovered from community:

Recovered funds will revolve and be allocated to the further construction of eleven (11) new houses per year. In the case of the Build Together Program approvals, all the money will be recovered and a further 120 houses will be constructed.