Building the New South Africa: One House, One Dream at a Time

Nurcha, originally called the National Urban Reconstruction and Housing Agency, is dedicated to providing decent housing for low-income people in South Africa. Established in 1995, it uses loan guarantees and other financial instruments to release funds to developers for building houses and to poor people for obtaining homes. With the support of the post-apartheid government, the Open Society Institute, and other international and domestic donors, Nurcha is expanding its work into areas such as community development and the empowerment of homeowners through a nationwide savings effort.

Building the New South Africa: One House, One Dream at a Time discusses Nurcha's first several years, examining how and why it has become a major influence in the housing field and a catalyst for institutional change.