Housing subsidy for income bracket R3 501 – R22 000

We can help you buy or rent a house if you qualify for assistance and if your combined household income is between R3 501 and R22 000 per month. This help can be in the form of subsidies (a cash gift that you don’t have to repay) or subsidised rents (we pay some of your rent).

The Western Cape Government provides the most help to the most vulnerable people in our communities. That means that if you earn very little, you can get a lot more help than someone else who earns a lot of money. Certain groups of people, such as women, single parents, older people over 65 years old, and people with disabilities, will receive subsidies first from the Western Cape Government.

The Western Cape is a growing province, and the number of people who need adequate housing increases every year. This means that it can take some years before you can get help with housing from the government.

Before you apply for any housing assistance, you need to register on the Housing Needs Register with your municipality.

If the adults in your house altogether earn between R3 501 and R22 000 per month, you can apply for these subsidies:

1. Help Me Buy a Home/FLISP

The Finance Linked Individual Subsidy Programme, or ‘FLISP’, is also known as Help Me Buy a Home.

FLISP is a housing subsidy to help people in the Western Cape buy their first house. Depending on your income, you may qualify for a subsidy that will go towards the purchase of your house. Learn more about FLISP. The subsidy amount depends on the income of the applicant and ranges between R38 911.40 – R169 264.60. Once your home loan is approved, you can apply directly to the Western Cape Department of Human Settlements for a Help Me Buy a Home/FLISP subsidy. You can also apply for this subsidy if you purchased your home in the past 12 months.

2. Enhanced Extended Discount Benefit Scheme

This programme will help you become a homeowner of pre-1994 government-owned rental housing (municipal and provincial). If you have been renting a government property since before 1994, you can qualify for this programme. Enquiries and applications can be made directly at your nearest municipality.

3. Social Housing Programme (SHP)

With the Social Housing Programme subsidy you can gain access to a rental house or apartment. Government funding is provided to social housing institutions to manage the rental units. You then pay a reduced rental amount, based on your household income, to the social housing institution.

Read more about how to apply for the SHP. Enquiries, and applications can be made directly at your municipality.