To assist low-income students SA’s DigsConnect secured Dell Foundation led $200k funding

The Michael & Susan Dell Foundation has awarded DigsConnect, a South African student housing marketplace, a ZAR 3 million (US $200,000) grant to help university students from low-income families find safe and affordable homes.

The DigsConnect website, which was launched in 2018, allows landlords, estate agents, and property managers to publish their property listings, with students browsing and sifting through these ads to locate housing that meets their needs, as well as discover other students to live with.

This year, the business has funded ZAR5 million (US $330,000), up from ZAR12 million (then US $830,000) in March 2019. An angel investor contributed ZAR2 million ($130,000), while the Michael and Susan Dell Foundation contributed ZAR3 million ($200,000).

DigsConnect is launching #1000digs, a specialised campaign to assist NSFAS and bursary-funded students in South Africa who are seeking housing, as a result of this cooperation. Hands-on help from their staff, as well as a brand-new dedicated legal support line for these students, many of whom will be signing their first legal deal when they sign their lease.

The Dell Foundation is devoted to improving the lives of children throughout the world who are living in poverty in cities. The organisation, which is based in Austin, Texas, and has offices in New Delhi, India, and Johannesburg, South Africa, supports programmes that promote high-quality public education and help low-income families improve their financial security.

“Safe and affordable accommodations are essential to a successful university experience. However, the inability to find appropriate housing creates additional barriers for students who are already managing new uncertainties in university life. The partnership with DigsConnect further allows students to be integrated into supportive communities while away from home, creating an opportunity for them to focus on and succeed in their studies,” said Dr. Thashlin Govender, programme director for the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation.