SA Affordable Housing September - October 2016 // Issue: 60 | Page 15

COVER STORY
Communicare is a provider of rental housing that connects people to a world where they can be supported, flourish and uplift themselves.
" Given the country’ s history and our historic role in shaping the City of Cape Town, we consider it important that Communicare is actively building inclusive neighbourhoods and complexes that offer opportunities to all Cape Town’ s diverse people."
Linking Communicare’ s role to the country’ s history Houston stresses:“ Given our historic role in shaping the City of Cape Town, we consider it important that Communicare actively builds inclusive neighbourhoods and complexes that offer opportunities to all Cape Town’ s diverse people.” Communicare’ s development plans also involve implementing urban renewal projects in neighbourhoods where the organisation has substantial property holdings to contribute to reversing economic, social and environmental decline in these suburbs. Tackled strategically, this urban renewal will improve the welfare of the areas’ residents while also creating new opportunities for economic and social inclusion.
Densification: the redevelopment of Communicare’ s Drommedaris complex( seen at the back) resulted in the addition of 219 new units( seen in front).
Houston says this is about more than throwing diverse people together.“ Moving forward, we are engaging with our tenants to build real cohesion and healthy integration.” The organisation’ s exciting new social development programme focuses on creating an environment that supports the economic mobility and selfreliance of its tenants. This involves a multifaceted approach and Communicare is partnering with a range of organisations to make successful interventions with its tenants in the fields of education, job market skills development, life-skills and financial literacy.
“ Our refreshed brand speaks to who we are and what we plan to achieve,” explains Houston.“ Communicare is a provider of rental housing that connects people to a world where they can be supported, flourish and uplift themselves as active participants in Cape Town’ s vibrant economy. Our team is committed to be service-driven and forward thinking. While we offer a personal and trusted service to our tenants and purchasers we also commit to being responsive to the social and economic realities in the broader Cape Town community.”
Anthea Houston, chief executive officer of Communicare.
With a housing backlog of over 400 000 families in Cape Town, Communicare is set to continue playing a major role in addressing the country’ s housing challenge by building complexes that are places in which families and communities thrive.
AFFORDABLE
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