Dutch International Guarantees for Housing - support of social housing development world-wide

Dutch International Guarantees for Housing foundation approves second loan agreement with Own Haven Housing Association, Buffalo City, South Africa - April 18th, 2003.

DIGH foundation and OHHA signed a second loan agreement for 8,154,203 Rand (955,944 Euro).

The foundation DIGH has been set up as an initiative of several Dutch housing associations with the aim to stimulate social housing in developing and transition countries. DIGH is providing affordable loans with the help of financial guarantees by Dutch housing associations, municipalities and other institutions. The first projects have been implemented in South Africa, and two successive loans have been provided to OHHA in Buffalo City.

Dutch financing will enable the construction of 342 rental houses for low-income categories of the population. Partners of DIGH on the Dutch side are the Woningbedrijf Amsterdam (http://www.woningbedrijf-amsterdam.nl/), and Woonconcept Meppel (http://www.woonconcept.nl/), and the van der Leij Habitat Foundation. The loans provided amount to 20.8 mln. Rand (2.3 mln. Euro). 0.7 mln. Rand is still needed to successfully complete the second phase of the project.

DIGH is planning to sign more loan agreements this year. DIGH is presently working on projects in South Africa, Poland, Russia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Dutch Antilles, and Surinam.

If you are interested in DIGH, wish to apply for a loan or make a contribution towards social housing development, please contact us at: info@DIGH.nl

Phone: +31-20-4106414

Fax: +31-204106415

Internet: http://www.digh.nl/

Boris Popov,

DIGH

On behalf of:

Van der Leij Habitat Foundation,

Woonconcept Meppel,

Het Woningbedrijf Amsterdam