Own Haven Housing Assocation

Providing sought-after, well managed rental houses

Inspired by the second UN World Habitat Conference in 1996, Intervolve Foundation in 1998 initiated a training programme at Haven Hills South for the underprivileged in the townships of East London (now Buffalo City) called the High Return Housing Project. Next to training and creating work for the inhabitants of this already existing township, the area Haven Hills was also newly developed. This development included 132 project-linked low cost units and 258 rental apartments.

 

With the support of  “Woningbouwvereniging Eigen Haard”, Own Haven Housing Association (OHHA) was conceived of as a module of the Haven Hills South project to own and manage the rental stock of the development. It is committed to being the leading provider of new and refurbished rental homes. Own Haven Housing Association has adopted an aggressive development plan in order to achieve critical number of units under management of say 2,500 by 2015 to ensure financial sustainability. 

 

The redevelopment and refurbishment of Skyways, now known as Skyview entailed the complete refurbishment of a fourteen-storey building as well as the two adjoining three storey structures giving a total of 103 units. This refurbishment was identified as being central to initiating the urban renewal of the previous popular but now blighted Southernwood neighbourhood. The development was unveiled by Dutch Minister of Housing (Sybilla Dekker) in April 2006. 


In order to achieve financial sustainability Own Haven has an active network of support parties including Eigen Haard Housing Association, enabling Own Haven to secure requisite project loan finance and organisational knowledge and expertise. DIGH, Staedion and Condavia have also contributed towards the long-term sustainability of Own Haven through project funding.
But Own Haven also hooks up with local partners like municipalities, provinces and financial institutions. The association has made a strategic choice to also start working in the cities of Port Elizabeth and Knysna. 


HOW DO WE GET THERE?
In 2006 Eigen Haard and Intervolve appointed Deloitte accountants to investigate the feasibility of a financially independent corporation in East London. Conclusion was that independency could be reached providing that the coming years financing would come from the Netherlands.

Given this conclusion and the fact that Own Haven Housing Association has an ambitious investment plan the Dutch ministry of housing has taken up her responsibility and has given Eigen Haard approval to provide temporary financial guarantees for Own Haven to grow. Intervolve Credit uses this guarantee to provide loans to Own Haven.

ACTIVITIES
In December 2008 Own Haven Housing Association in cooperation with Condavia purchased, via public auction, the land mark building Park Towers. It is situated in Port Elizabeth. The 9 storey building consists of 7 floors of residential accommodation with a total of 136 rental units and 2 floors of commercial space. In march 2009 the first renters came to live in their new apartment.

In 2005 OHHA bought Eriko Court. This only 8 units complex is next to Southernwood Park and tenants love to live there.


PROJECTS UNDER CONSTRUCTION
The Municipality of Knysna awarded development rights for two parcels of land to Own Haven Housing Association for the development of integrated low- and middle-income housing. Construction of phase one has commenced and realised 112 units early 2010. Phase 2 of this project, with another 54 units, started mid 2009.

Own Haven’s Kenwick Close site in East London forms an interface between ‘apartheid planned’ affluent Indian and low-income white communities. Development of the site (71 units) together with Condavia is seen as an opportunity to integrate the two areas by providing an appropriate product mix.

In 2008 Own Haven identified a development opportunity and purchased a land parcel, Gonubie Palms, situated on the outskirts of East London. The project consists of 40 plot and plan units for the outright sale while the 141 rental flats will be owned and managed by Own Haven.

 

FUTURE PROJECTS
Reservoir Mews: 429 units
Reservoir Site is located at the intersection of three primary arterial roads in East London. Thereby lending itself to becoming a showcase for social housing in the city and flagship project for Own Haven Housing Association. Building has started at the end of 2009.

Southerwood Park

  

Reservoir Site

Southernwood Park: 249 units
This is a ‘greenfield’ project located adjacent to Eriko Court and Skyview in Southernwood. It is an opportunity to provide low income accommodation within a well-planned and managed environment in the inner city. Building has started at the end of 2009.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Click here tot download the factsheet of Own Haven Housing Association, and here for a presentation in PowerPoint on all OHHA projects.

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