Perseverance pays off: How the Shack Dwellers Federation of Namibia is transforming dreams of homeownership

Ricard Unanisa (39) hurries to Kuisebmond Stadium on a Sunday afternoon to make it to his weekly Shack Dwellers Federation of Namibia (SDFN) meeting.

Changing his clothes straight after church, having a quick bite and hurrying to the meeting has become an all-too-familiar routine.

Attending weekly Sunday meetings is a dedicated, ongoing effort towards securing a home for many SDFN members, despite several challenges.

Unanisa has sacrificed almost 800 Sundays for the past 16 years, but is yet to own a home.

“It is tough, it is for my own good to persevere. I joined when I did not have children. Now I have three sons, the oldest is 13.

“I pay about N$1 300 rent per month. It is worth it to brave the weather and fatigue every Sunday, but I am motivated when I see others getting their houses after a long time.

“The group is trying, but servicing in places like Walvis Bay is very difficult. That is what is keeping us back. Despite all this I cannot stop now.”

Unanisa says the Kuisebmond SDFN group meets in the open space outside Kuisebmond Stadium every Sunday, where they are exposed to sandstorms and the coast’s misty and cold weather.

“But it has to be done.”

He dreams of being able to give his family a home.

He has had enough of paying rent for a shack, he says.

“The rent keeps increasing and I’m just making someone else rich.”

Each SDFN group member contributes to a communal savings account at their own pace, which eventually covers home loans, acquiring land, engineers and land surveyors, among others.

FIFTEEN YEARS IN THE MAKING

Francisco Maree (47), who is also the chairperson of the Narraville SDFN branch, says he joined the federation in 2007, when it consisted of four groups and 68 members.

He finally moved into his house 15 years later in 2022.

The Narraville group applied for land for 68 erven which was finally approved by the municipality in 2010.

The group’s building team then started with the construction of 40 houses in October 2019, and another 26 in 2021.

“The project was delayed due to struggles with unsurveyed and unserviced land and a lack of funding from the private sector. That is why it took many years,” Maree says.

ALL ABOUT ENDURANCE

The construction process is costly, especially at Walvis Bay, he says.

“We get home loans easily, but the obstacles, especially filling the land and moving dunes, takes about 10 to 15 years.

“Members are really organised and proudly endure,” he says.

Maree says the Sunday meetings are tough due to the unfavourable coastal weather conditions and exhaustion, but not everyone can make it on another day of the week.
“They are inspired to show up, pay N$10 or N$20 towards their personal account, and get the necessary information on the progress of the federation.

“It’s tough, because you want to sit down a bit and prepare for Monday after church, but you need to show up because of your dream to own a home.”

Maree says members attend the Sunday meetings, come rain or shine.

“We are very hard-working, determined and proud,” he says.

Some members give up though, while others are discouraged by community members’ negative comments, he says.

And some return when they see the fruits of determination.

‘SUCCESS IS PRICELESS’

Juliana van Wyk (65), who joined the Narraville group in 2007, says moving into a house after 15 years of braving Sunday meetings was a relief.

“Sometimes you don’t feel like it. But the feeling of finally making it was priceless. I was drained, cold and always covered in sand from sandstorms, while the sand also burnt me, but I made it.

“It takes really long to service land. Many do not see their efforts paying off. If only we could get help with land servicing.

“Our children are becoming rebellious. They are also frustrated with the conditions they’re living in,” she says.

DYING ALONG THE WAY

Van Wyk says it’s sad to think about those who started out going to the Sunday meetings with her, but died along the way without ever owning a home.

“Then you hear some of their children saying they will not stand in the wind and cold like their parents to continue with the journey.

“They choose to take the money their parents contributed to a house. It is even worse meeting them in the street – homeless,” she says.

Meanwhile, another 1 000 erven were allocated to the Walvis Bay group in 2017, of which 237 from the Kuisebmond network and 170 from the Narraville network are undergoing servicing.

Eunice Williams (59), who joined the SFDN in 2012, also hopes to own her own house soon.

“I’m waiting to get a house, because I worked really hard. Things are looking up for us, despite the servicing challenge. Walking and standing at meetings on Sundays is not fun, but we have no choice,” she says.

HOW IT WORKS

The SFDN is a savings scheme aimed at providing housing solutions for low-income people living in shacks, rented rooms and those without accommodation.

Each SDFN group of about 30 members has its own savings account.

Group members make monthly contributions to the account, which is eventually enough to afford one member a house or a home loan.

Members are on a waiting list to become beneficiaries.

Each group has a committee in charge of sharing information on the progress of applications for land and meetings with local authorities.

Committee members also keep record of group members’ contributions.

The SDFN was established in 1998 by 30 housing groups which had been formed in Namibia since the late 80s.

Its members have built houses and secured land for over 6 000 families by negotiating with local authorities.

‘COMMENDABLE’

Walvis Bay municipality deputy mayor Saara Mutondoka says the SDFN’s perseverance, teamwork and ability to coordinate has to be commended.

“The work these people are doing is really inspirational. Their perseverance is commendable.

“Imagine being there for over 20 years and still having that hope. They really need all the necessary assistance from the central and local governments.

“People are determined to own land and should not be held back.”