Social housing and spatial inequality in South African cities

Abstract

Social housing is a powerful tool to integrate divided cities by providing decent rental accommodation for low- and moderate-income working families. Success depends on several enabling conditions: capable social housing agencies, viable subsidy levels, well-located land, support across government, private sector involvement and determined implementation. Over the last 26 years in democratic South Africa there has been a 'spatial drift' of new social housing projects from inner urban areas towards outer areas, contrary to policy intentions. Renewed commitment is required to locate social housing in increasingly dense areas with good access to jobs and amenities.