How do I know where I am on the housing list?

The long answer

Thank you for your email about living in one room with your husband and four children after being on the waiting list for a long time. I can imagine how difficult it must be.

The trouble with the waiting list is that there is more than one and there are different systems for allocating houses. You might be listed on a Municipal Housing Demand Database or your province’s Housing Needs Register.

It might be best to take your proof of registration to the office where you applied and ask them where you are on the list.

If you are registered on the City of Cape Town’s housing database, you can enter your ID number on the Online Housing Subsidy Portal. Alternatively, you can send an SMS with your ID number to 44108, and they will reply immediately to tell you what the status of your application is, and what you should do from there.

For Cape Town, you can also go to this website and enter your ID:  http://web1.capetown.gov.za/web1/hwl2012online/. 

You can also go to the Department of Human Settlements at 27 Wale Street, Cape Town or call the helpdesk on 021 483 6488 /3112 /0611 /8984 /0623 (Mondays to Fridays from 07:30 - 15:00).

If you are not on the Cape Town list, you can contact the Department of Human Settlements at this toll free number: 0800 146 873. I have pasted Groundup’s list of Government housing assistance contact details below:

Housing Enquiries Hotline: 0800 146 873

Gauteng: 011 355 4000

Western Cape: 079 769 1207 (Please Call Me)

Eastern Cape: 043 711 9901/2/3

KwaZulu Natal: 033 392 6400 or 033 3365300

North West: 018 388 5403

Limpopo: 015 284 5000

Northern Cape: 053 830 9422

Free State: 051 405 3883

Mpumalanga: 013 766 6087