Today, 5 September 2022, City of Cape Town officials visited its new R93 million inner city social housing project, Maitland Mews. The project is expected to deliver 204 affordable rental units and demonstrates what is possible when government and the private sector work together. The City with social housing institution Madulammoho Housing Association and Calgro M3 Developers came together to provide well-located affordable social housing close to the city centre.
Funding for the project is made available through the Consolidated Capital Grant from the Social Housing Regulatory Authority (SHRA), loan finance from the National Housing Finance Corporation (NHFC), equity from Madulammoho and a discounted land price from the City to enable social housing.
This development forms part of a broader precinct development comprising more than 1 000 affordable housing units. It also potentially makes way for the financing of further affordable housing units on the larger site of this precinct development through a subsidy for first-time homeowners that is administered by the Western Cape Government, working with the banking sector.
Maitland Mews is situated close to public transport, schools, places of worship, a library and a police station. It is a short walk to Koeberg and Maitland Stations, is on the MyCiTi bus route and is less than seven kilometres away from the Cape Town central business district.
'It is incredible to see the progress that has been made on site. We turned sod here just six months ago and much progress has already been made. The City has a number of inner city social housing projects currently under way and are all progressing steadily. We are committed to developing affordable housing opportunities in urban centres across the metro in an inclusive, fair and ordered manner. Social housing developments are complex with a host of legislative requirements to adhere to before development can take place. We have repeatedly stated our commitment to ensuring the creation of more affordable social housing opportunities. I am proud to see this in action here today.
'Thank you to the Madulammoho Housing Association, Calgro M3 Developments, the Western Cape Government, the Social Housing Regulatory Authority and other government and private partners. We make progress when we work together and we look forward to additional partnerships on this site and across the metro to help create more affordable housing opportunities,' said the City's Mayoral Committee Member for Human Settlements, Councillor Malusi Booi.
Facts about social housing:
• It is managed by accredited social housing institutions (SHIs).
• SHIs are solely dependent on rental income. They receive no operational grants. They are able to service their debt finance through rental income.
• As with any rental contract, tenants formally enter into lease agreements. The landlord is the SHI.
• If tenants do not adhere to their lease agreements, the responsible SHI will follow the necessary legal process. Tenants must therefore pay to stay as the rental money is used for the day-to-day operation and upkeep of the complex.
• The City has nothing to do with the day-to-day management of SHIs, the rental amount or evictions for not paying.
• Before potential beneficiaries can apply for social housing, they are required to register on the City's Housing Needs Register.
• Projects are developed on well-located, accessible land in and near urban centres.
• It is not low-income subsidised government housing, such as Breaking New Ground (or the commonly called RDP housing and it is not City Council Rental Units).
• It is managed with 24-hour security and access control.
• The City may sell City-owned land at a discounted price for social housing developments to make projects economically viable.
• Social housing offers improved access to social facilities and other amenities.
• A single grant subsidy can benefit on average five households versus one household for Council rental units.
• Social housing adds value to vacant pieces of land.
• Social housing has the potential to improve property values in an area.
Source: City Of Cape Town