The Johannesburg Social Housing Company (Joshco) will invest over R1.3 billion to develop 2 920 social and affordable rental units in the city.
It will break ground at four sites located in Rivonia, Northriding, Diepsloot/Steyn City and Jeppestown within a few weeks.
Its mandate is to provide and manage social and affordable rental housing for the lower income market - serving families whose total household income is between R3 500 and R15 000 a month.
Joshco has resolved to explore these economic hubs and suburban market offerings by branching in areas such as Midrand, Randburg and Fourways. This will yield significant cost and time reduction for the lower income earning residents in the peripheries travelling around 25km on average to their place of work.
Member of the Mayoral Committee for Housing in the City of Johannesburg Cllr Mlungisi Mabaso says Joshco has also invested in student accommodation.
“Next month will see the launch of Joshco’s first student accommodation project yielding 193 beds. This follows the higher education sector’s unprecedented growing demand for student accommodation. Joshco has observed that a limited number of students stay on campus and that the existing student accommodation market is unable to cope with the demand.
“This creates a huge off-campus accommodation market, compelling many students to live as backyard dwellers or become victim of unregistered landlords who charge exorbitant rental amounts. Joshco aims to bridge the gap in the student accommodation sector in Joburg,” says MMC Mabaso.
The other demand since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic has been on metros seeking to de-densify informal settlements and provide alternative accommodation to relocate residents from Covid-19 hotspots to safer, hygienic areas known as Temporary Residential Areas, which are a temporary shelter solution in a wide range of emergency situations of exceptional housing needs. Joshco has raised its hand to assist with the delivery of the temporary residential units at 17 Viola Avenue, Marlboro Gardens; 12 Second Avenue, Marlboro and 2077 Roosevelt Street Madala Hostel in Alexandra.
Joshco has also turned some of its buildings into quarantine sites or isolation facilities furnished with beds to ensure the safety and good health of the residents of the City.
Joshco is moving with the times – the entity has resumed with the electronic application process as a strategic response to the lockdown restrictions and a way to improve their service turnaround times. No more queues.
Applicants can now send #HEITAJOSHCO to 066 511 7139 and you will receive an automatic response that details the rental properties that have unit vacancies, what documents are required to apply, and where to email the documents. All in a single click.
