Expanding abused women's access to housing

Providing abused women with sustainable housing in South Africa By: Emdon, E
Published by: Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation (CSVR), 2007
Via: Eldis

To facilitate the transition out of an abusive relationship, sustainable and long term housing for battered women is essential. This handbook offers legal and practical guidance on providing shelter to abused women in South Africa. It identifies opportunities and gaps in current policies and programmes, and highlights options for funding the costs of supplying properties to victims of abuse. An overview of available housing models serves as a practical foundation for suggested improvements. Based on a survey of policies and programmes, recommendations include:

• a national programme with detailed implementation guidelines should be made part of the National Housing Code
• project preparation must be recognised as a key component of projects
• a common language and terminology should be implemented when discussing these such issues
• cooperation between government and NGOs
• the central government department of Social Development funding should contribute to operational costs and special programmes
• local government needs to develop a standardised policy outlining the extent of its assistance to shelters.