Minister of Urban and Rural Development Erastus Utoni has handed over 66 low-cost housing units to the Shack Dwellers Federation at Narraville in Walvis Bay.

Utoni further vowed the government's continued financial support to the federation to ensure that residents get decent housing and land.

The journey of 66 new home owners at Narraville Walvis Bay started in 2007 when they applied for land, which the municipality donated in 2010.

For as little as one dollar per day, the members saved money, indicating their unwavering belief in their cause.

Francisco Maree of the Shack Dwellers Facilitator in Walvis Bay says, "The persons of low income, pensioners, domestic workers, and small business owners came together, united by the vision and a better future for themselves and their families through Shack Dwellers. The allocated area in Narraville presented unique challenges with its many dunes and difficult terrain, making the servicing costs prohibitively high. Yet, even in the face of these obstacles, our community remained resolute."

The government annually allocates N$10 million to the federation, while partners Standard Bank, Ohorongo Cement, FNB, and the Pupkewitz Foundation have donated a combined N$18 million since 2016.

The minister says the government is amending the housing policy to accommodate low-income earners, who represent about 52 percent of the population.

Minister of Urban and Rural Development, Erastus Uutoni, says, "With the policy I'm talking about, that amount will increase because the government recognises shack dwellers. That amount will increase, and if the private sector is not careful and if we put more money there, the majority of the people will flock to shack dwellers and don't cry that we no longer have customers. Maybe that's a learning process, but we will also see how their role can reduce the prices so our young men and women in uniform can also afford it because it's a problem for them to take out a house worth a million dollars."

Senior citizen Rigina Hirschfeld is one of 350 federation members whose dreams of owning a house have come true.

"I have never owned my own house; I always had a place to rent until I heard of the Shack Dwellers Federation, and that's when I decided to join them. I kept holding on and believed since 2007: Please come and join Shack Dwellers. There's a blue book that says savings, and instead of going to the bank where you ask for a loan, which will take ages, with Shack Dwellers, you can save even N$10 and get a house."

There are more than five thousand federation members at Walvis Bay still waiting for land.