Milestones
JHC’s values listed in logical order are: Commitment, Teamwork, Excellence and Sustainability. We understand the need for Commitment and Teamwork to achieve Excellence and the need for Excellence to achieve Sustainability.
As a pioneer in social housing JHC has faced many challenges and learnt many lessons. It has recorded a number of firsts and has earned a reputation for innovation. These milestones mark our progress over the past 14 years.
| 1995 | JHC officially established. |
| 1996 | First building purchased for social housing in the Johannesburg inner city: San Martin, Joubert Park. |
| 1997 | First conversion from office to residential: Tower Hill, Hillbrow. First new-build residential development in the inner city in 30 years: Jeppe Oval, Jeppestown. |
| 1998 | First slum clearance and upgrade: Douglas Rooms, Troyeville. |
| 1999 | First Community Development Department established by a social housing company. JHC CEO Taffy Adler ‘Gauteng Housing Person of the Year’, awarded by the Institute for Housing of South Africa. JHC’s new-build Carr Gardens 1 fully occupied within 17 days of opening. |
| 2000 | First crèche opened in a JHC building: Douglas Village, Troyeville. First commercial loan for an inner city social housing project awarded to JHC by Absa Bank for Elangeni, breaking the redlining of property loans in the inner city. First conversion of a hotel to residential: Landrost, CBD. |
| 2001 | First residential landlord to formulate an HIV/AIDS Charter. JHC ‘Gauteng Housing Developer of the Year’, awarded by the Institute for Housing of South Africa. JHC converted to a Section 21 company (association incorporated not for gain). |
| 2002 | First upgrade completed under the City of Johannesburg’s Better Buildings Programme: Lake Success, Hillbrow. Opening of JHC’s new-build Elangeni, CBD. Opening of JHC’s new-build Tribunal Gardens, Fordsburg. |
| 2003 | First residential landlord to introduce a Hardship Assistance Programme for tenants. First public-private partnership in residential development, structured by JHC for Brickfields Housing Project. Funding and equity investments from both public and private sectors led to the formation of the Brickfields Housing Company. JHC reached financial breakeven; for the first time operational income covered all operating costs. JHC restructured to incorporate Brickfields Housing Company (Pty) Ltd, Makhulong A Matala as a non-profit, public benefit organisation, and Mitja Investments No.66 (Pty) Ltd. |
| 2004 | First Customer Service Survey for tenants in a social housing company. First residential neighbourhood improvement programme: eKhaya Neighbourhood, Hillbrow. |
| 2005 | Opening of Brickfields, Newtown, creating a new residential neighbourhood in the inner city. |
| 2006 | JHC won the international BSHF UN Habitat Award for practical, innovative and sustainable housing solutions. JHC also won the inaugural Govan Mbeki Award as ‘Social Housing Institution of the Year’, presented by the National Department of Housing. |
| 2007 | JHC CEO Taffy Adler ‘South African Social Entrepreneur of the Year’, awarded by the Schwab Foundation. 2008 - JHC won the JDA’s (Johannesburg Development Agency’s) Halala Joburg!. |
| 2008 | JHC wins the Govan Mbeki Award from then the National Department of Housing. The same year, JHC's Elangeni wins the SA Institute of Architecs' President Awards. |
| 2009 | Elize Stroebel is appointed as the new CEO of JHC. Makhulong A Matala wins the JDA’s Halala Joburg! Award “ Caring Joburg”. eKhaya Neighbourhood wins the SAPOA (SA Property Owners Association)Award for innovative excellence in property Development. eKhaya also wins the JDA’s Halala Joburg! Award “Sustaining Joburg:past, present and future”. |
| 2010 | Makhulong A Matala wins the National Housing Award under the Community Development Category awarded by the SA Housing Foundation. eKhaya Neighbouhood receives a commendation from the SA Institute of Architecs in the inaugural AfriSam – SAIA Award for Sustainable Architecture for recycling and upgrading in the neighbourhood, undertaken for JHC by Savage & Dodd Architecs. |
