Policy Brief: Adequate Temporary Alternative Accommodation (July 2020)

This policy brief sets out a proposed approach to municipal provision of alternative accommodation. The law requires that municipalities provide temporary alternative accommodation when evictions lead to homelessness. However, municipalities have been slow to develop proactive alternative accommodation programmes in response to the case law. The accommodation that has been provided, generally compelled by court orders, is insufficient. Management of temporary alternative accommodation has been inadequate and certain models, such as the managed care model, are constitutionally offensive. This policy brief aims to fill the gap by reviewing evictions law and its implications for municipalities, setting out a proposed approach to municipal provision of alternative accommodation and discussing the need for a national framework. 

Affordable Public Rental Housing (July 2016) 

A public rental housing programme is needed to bridge the gap between the demand for and supply of affordable rental accommodation in South Africa’s higher density urban centres. No formal rental options exist in either the social or private rental sector that accommodate the majority of poorer urban households' needs for rental accommodation. The up-front capital costs, ongoing operating expenditure, availability of building stock and management model are four aspects of the proposed programme addressed in this policy brief.

Women with Disabilities and Informal Settlement Sanitation (August 2019)

People with disabilities living in informal settlements are among the most vulnerable and marginalised in the country. Informal settlements are characterised by severe poverty and unemployment, and are poorly served with water, sanitation and other essential services. This report seeks to raise awareness of the challenges women with disabilities living in informal settlements face in accessing adequate water and sanitation, and to propose actions to ensure safe, dignified services. 

The report is a product of the project “Sanitation for Women with Disabilities living in Informal Settlements” led by the SERI in partnership with the Pegasys Institute and Twospinningwheels Productions. It is a companion piece to the short film “The Struggle to be Ordinary: Sanitation for Women with Disabilities in Informal Settlements”.

The report was written by Kelebogile Khunou (SERI researcher), Alana Potter (SERI director of research and advocacy) and Barbara Schreiner (Pegasys Institute former executive director). >>Read the full report here.