HIV AIDS Housing Workshop Johannesburg September 2014 Fortunate

HIV/ AIDS Housing Workshop Johannesburg- September 2014 Fortunate Nyamhunga

The Kuyasa Fund has been In operation since 2000 We give out loans to people so they can improve their homes. We have issued over R 127 million in lo We have issued over R 264 million in HOUSING LOANS to over 30 000 clients!

Loans for better homes Microfinance loans are administered in order for households to improve their housing quality; build equity through economic, financial and social capital gained from home improvements.

LOANS are used for: • Fencing & Security Bars • Extending Structure • Tiling • Flooring • Roofing & Ceilings • Plastering & Painting …anything house related

Our Clients reside in Reconstruction & Development Program (RDP) Housing before coming to Kuyasa to apply for a Loan

Kuyasa Clients Demographics

Meet Our Clients

Case Study- Kuyasa Client Eunice Bakjana (66 years old) • lived in Green Pt (informal settlement) as she was on the waiting list for RDP • -she was part of a housing federation (type of savings group) which offered more than the RDP (provided roofing material, 50 bags of cement) and she could build a home that was 68 -72 sq meters (significantly larger than RDP housing) • -

Eunice Bakjana Cont… • -she heard about Kuyasa from friends and she was excited to be eligible for a Kuyasa loan with an employment letter (she was a domestic worker) � even though she didn’t have formal work, Kuyasa was ok with that! • she earns an income through a government support grant and selling 2 nd hand clothing • -she takes care of her grandchildren as parents passed away (HIV/ AIDSrelated illnesses) • 2006 R 2312. 47 -plastering • 2009 R 3000 -add water geyser, bath tub • 2010 R 3000 -ceiling

Our Experiences • Our clients are predominantly Xhosa speaking & umgalelo / Savings/ stokvel are very central to the Xhosa culture- If one does not belong to a “umgalelo” they are regarded as an outcast • Savings are important to Kuyasa’s operations and they form part our lending criteria • Our clients must provide proof of belonging to savings group to support their application to show financial responsibility.

Our Experiences cont…. . Leveraging capital in order to build client equity • A government subsidy funded home in the Western Cape is valued at R 50 000 • Its Size 23 m 2 to 36 m 2 in size. • After investing their savings (about R 2 800) and two Kuyasa loans (total value of R 12 000 to R 15 000), the final homes of Kuyasa clients are on average 60 m 2 in size and valued at between R 150 000 and R 250 000

Mobilisation of over R 1. 5 bn into the Housing Sector GOVERNMENT DELIVERED HOME (RDP) - title deed -units valued at R 50 000 -size: 23 -36 m 2 HOUSING MICROFINANCE BANKABLE HOUSING ASSET -units valued at R 150 000 to R 250 000 -size: 60 m 2 -improved credit score of individual -formal access to secured financing -successive savings and loans -incremental improvements • Through Savings & taking a Kuyasa Loan; employment opportunities are created in communities in which we work

Our Experiences Cont…. • Housing happens early on in people’s lives and continues to occur into old age • The missing age group due to the HIV/ AIDS pandemic results in the old age tending to grandchildren left behind by deceased parent/s • Living with additional family members / persons makes it necessary for provision of additional space in the homes & improvement in sanitary conditions

Need for Additional Space Mama Ntombonina (67 yrs old) has to look after her daughters and grandchildren from her pension

Our Experiences Cont…. • As a South African Employer- Managing HIV/AIDS in the workplace is a challenge • How do we manage it in the absence of nondisclosure? • Our employees are not working regular hours & are not being responsible • Defaults in taking medication; being responsible & denial are a challenge. • Defaults- Health sector not easily accessible to make provision for ARVs and December holidays employees go to Ema. Xhoseni (Eastern Cape which further excerbates the defaults)

Our Experiences Cont…. • Although; non-disclosure a challenge-We continue to educate employees in how to deal and manage HIV/AIDS in the work place • Employees going on holidays are advised to take additional medication along to mitigate running out of medication thereby; minimising defaults. • We acknowledge the need for housing for people infected with HIV/AIDS & positive impact on their well being through provision of housing