Well done Mayor Justin Lester says community housing sector

Friday, 24 February 2017, 10:06 am
Press Release: Community Housing Aotearoa

Well done Mayor Justin Lester say the community housing sector

23 February 2017

The community housing sector welcome the announcement by Wellington Mayor Justin Lester to increase the number of affordable and social homes in Wellington.

“We congratulate Wellington Council on their announcement to build 750 units of social and affordable homes,” says Community Housing Aotearoa Chief Executive, Scott Figenshow. “We are pleased to participate in the Mayors Housing Task Force and look forward to working through the delivery partnerships in that forum that will activate this supply across the range of housing needed – across the housing continuum.”

“Wellington is facing some real housing constraints that are also affecting other areas in the region such as the Kapiti Coast and the Hutt Valley. Justin Lester’s new council shows real leadership and vision in tackling these issues now, before it gets to the same state as the housing situation in Auckland.”

The 750 units of social and affordable homes will be built in Wellington over the next three years, including at the Arlington site at the top of Taranaki street, and several others around the city.

“Targeting homes to be affordable for people on low to median incomes will meet the need for increased assisted rental and assisted ownership opportunities for Wellingtonians not currently able to get into social housing, and who pay more than 30% of their income on rent.”

The assisted housing area is one that local authorities and community housing organisations are seeing an increased demand for. “There needs to be more housing choices for this group so that we don’t find them living in garages in another three years, as we have in Auckland.”

Wellington City Council have shown their continued commitment to all Wellingtonians becoming well-housed through further development and delivery of social and affordable housing, Scott Figenshow comments. “Community housing organisations and developers will be keen to collaborate with them.”

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Community Housing Aotearoa

Nga Wharerau o Aotearoa

Community Housing Aotearoa is the peak body for New Zealand's community housing sector. Our 110 members build and manage affordable and social housing.

Our Vision is to make sure every New Zealander is well-housed in a warm, safe, dry and affordable home. This is a basic human right.

We work to support the growth and development of community housing providers to enable them to provide affordable and social housing.

We want to demonstrate that community housing is a critical element alongside private and government owned housing. No one can do it alone.

Community Housing Aotearoa aims to:

1. be the voice of the community housing sector
2. build capacity and foster collaboration
3. promote best practice in housing policy
4. champion quality and excellence.

Contact Community Housing Aotearoa

• Website - communityhousing.org.nz/
• Our Place - Learn how we think this can be achieved
• Phone - +64 4 385 8722
• About us - Our 2021 annual report is online here
• Email - support@communityhousing.org.nz
• Link - Members directory
• Physical Address - Level 11, Ranchhod Tower, 39 The Terrace/102-112 Lambton Quay, Wellington