Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Work smarter with a Pro licence Learn More

Gordon Campbell | Parliament TV | Parliament Today | News Video | Crime | Employers | Housing | Immigration | Legal | Local Govt. | Maori | Welfare | Unions | Youth | Search

 

Struggling Kiwi family becomes a homeowner through KiwiBuy

Monday 19th May 2019

Struggling Kiwi family becomes a homeowner through a KiwiBuy solution

Tammy Ngawhika has recently achieved her dream of becoming a homeowner, together with her four children. She attained her goal through Progressive Home Ownership. Progressive Home ownership is one of the KiwiBuy products the Government is being urged to adopt by housing providers Habitat for Humanity, the New Zealand Housing Foundation, Community Housing Aotearoa and The Salvation Army.

Now I get to be lord of my land instead of being accountable to a landlord. This is our Whare, and it’s like our Marae. I built this house from scratch, and it’s all mine. It’s about self-esteem and identity” says Tammy.

“Progressive Home Ownership assists families locked out of the housing market into homeownership,” says Alan Thorp, Deputy CEO of Habitat for Humanity New Zealand. “It is a proven, tested model based on partnership, where the family works to build a track record and a deposit while living in a home which is theirs.”

Using Progressive Homeownership Habitat for Humanity has successfully partnered with 500 low and moderate-income families in New Zealand. All 500 are now either homeowners or on a pathway to homeownership thanks to Progressive Home Ownership, with many able to help children into home ownership.

Families assisted by Habitat in its 25 years in New Zealand typically spend five years renting the new home they have partnered with Habitat to build. After five years of meeting a series of partnership conditions, they agree to purchase the home at its original value when they are able - with a portion of the family’s rent helping to build a deposit.

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading

Are you getting our free newsletter?

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.

“Progressive Home Ownership succeeds due to five components: a well priced home, a period of stable rental and support services, the subsidy it requires, and of course the family’s willingness and potential,” said Mr Thorp. “Like lots of things, it does require a subsidy. But what our experience shows is that this is a small cost up-front to fully resolve a family’s reliance on welfare and other support. Progressive Home Ownership is a proven solution to inter generational poverty.”

“Families on low and moderate income are locked out of the housing market by an inflated housing market, but also access to credit, too little savings, debt, and many other barriers,” said Mr Thorp. “this is especially hard on young people, Pasifika families, and Maori families.”

Convincing the Government to adopt KiwiBuy is the aim of the campaign by the four organisations. If the Government incorporated KiwiBuy solutions like Habitat for Humanity’s progressive home ownership, in its sale of Kiwibuild houses, more low and medium income, New Zealand families could have homes of their own.

“Community Housing Organisations are ready to help more Kiwis into homes of their own, but we can't do it unless we have Government support,” said KiwiBuy campaign director Major Campbell Roberts.

ENDS

© Scoop Media

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading
 
 
 
Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Regional Headlines



Gordon Campbell: On Dune 2, And Images Of Islam


Depictions of Islam in Western popular culture have rarely been positive, even before 9/11. Five years on from the mosque shootings, this is one of the cultural headwinds that the Muslim community has to battle against. Whatever messages of tolerance and inclusion are offered in daylight, much of our culture tends to be hostile to Islam when we’re sitting in the dark, with popcorn.
Any number of movie examples come to mind, beginning with Rudolf Valentino’s role (over a century ago) as the romantic Arab hero in The Sheik...
More


 
 


Government: One-stop Shop Major Projects On The Fast Track

The Coalition Government’s new one-stop-shop fast track consenting regime for regional and national projects of significance will cut red tape and make it easier for New Zealand to build the infrastructure and major projects needed to get the country moving again... More

ALSO:


Government: GPS 2024: Over $20 Billion To Get Transport Back On Track
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has released the draft Government Policy Statement (GPS) on Land Transport, outlining the Coalition Government’s plan to build and maintain a transport system that enables people to get to where they need to go quickly and safely... More

ALSO:

Government: Humanitarian Support For Gaza & West Bank

Winston Peters has announced NZ is providing a further $5M to respond to the extreme humanitarian need in Gaza and the West Bank. “The impact of the Israel-Hamas conflict on civilians is absolutely appalling," he said... More


Government: New High Court Judge Appointed

Judith Collins has announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister Jason Scott McHerron as a High Court Judge. Justice McHerron graduated from the University of Otago with a BA in English Literature in 1994 and an LLB in 1996... More

 
 
 
 
 
 

LATEST HEADLINES

  • PARLIAMENT
  • POLITICS
  • REGIONAL
 
 

InfoPages News Channels


 
 
 
 

Join Our Free Newsletter

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.