Paper short abstract:

This paper discusses new housing alternatives for older people in two different African countries. The research indicates that although the state may be an important provider of housing for elderly, non-governmental initiatives are stronger in the country where the state is weaker.

Paper long abstract:

While older people usually arrange their own housing, urbanization and changing family patterns in Africa call for housing alternatives for this potentially vulnerable group. The state, the church, NGOs and private initiatives all play a role in the provision of housing for this group. Our paper builds on a comparative qualitative study of urban ageing in Uganda and Namibia.

Preliminary results show that in the case of Uganda where public welfare provision is weak, the non-state actors such as the church, NGOs and the family is of greater importance than in Namibia where there is a small, albeit important, welfare provision. In the latter, collective housing in the form of old age homes are publicly provided while the non-state initiative is weaker. Results also indicate that innovations develop within the informal sector, for instance housing for grandmothers who care for grandchildren orphaned by HIV, provided by an NGO in Uganda. There is a difference in housing provision for older people who live in a family context or if they lack such a belonging. Family provided housing includes separate housing units for grandparents and their grandchildren. The church in Uganda targets older people without family support in collective housing akin to old age homes.

In conclusion we argue that the state is of great importance to the provision of housing for older people. However, it could not be the sole provider and it seems as state provision might curb informal initiatives. The state could shoulder the role of supporting these initiatives.