Namibia housing backlog exceeds 270,000 units

Namibia is facing a significant housing crisis, with the national housing backlog now exceeding 270,000 units. According to recent data, over 200,000 households are living in more than 400 informal settlements across the country, many of which lack access to basic services. The number of households in these settlements increased by 192% between the 2011 and 2023 population censuses.

To address this, the Namibia Housing Enterprise (NHE), under the National Informal Settlement Upgrading Programme, recently handed over 82 houses to beneficiaries in the DRC Informal Settlement in Swakopmund. While officials noted that 82 houses are insufficient to meet the needs of the thousands living in the settlement, the project serves as a model for transforming informal areas through partnerships between the government, local authorities, and the private sector.

The government has endorsed more than 100,000 affordable houses nationwide, with prices capped at N$400,000 for qualifying residents. Additionally, the state plans to expand ‘Rent to Own’ opportunities for citizens unable to secure traditional mortgages. Minister of Urban and Rural Development James Sankwasa has called on local authorities to expedite land availability and remove administrative barriers to accelerate housing development.