MEDIACOM-RELEASE-HABITAT-FOR-HUMANITY

HABITAT FOR HUMANITY OFFERS SUSTAINABLE HOUSING SOLUTIONS

In a bid to accelerate the organisations' mission of eliminating sub-standard and over-crowded housing in New Zealand, charitable housing organization Habitat for Humanity New Zealand's Chairman and Director met with the Minister of Housing, Mark Gosche this morning.

Auckland, N.Z. - Habitat for Humanity New Zealand and the Ngai Tai Iwi Authority, Torere, is endeavouring to harness $800,000 of the 21.6 million government funding allocated to community housing projects in the East Cape, Far North and Auckland regions over the next four years.

"We plan to utilise this funding for a pilot project in Torere on the East Cape that will see 20 new homes built," says Grant Cathro, Director of Habitat for Humanity New Zealand. "At a cost of $70,000 per house we would like to see $40,000 of government funding towards each house and $30,000 from the private sector and the local Ngaitai Iwi." Ngai Tai are supporting this programme as one of a range of housing solutions they are evaluating. The Authority runs the LDRL programme in conjunction with HCNZ in the Eastern Bay of plenty. "This model will erdaciate sub-standard housing within Torere and is designed to be transportable to other areas of extreme need," said the Authority.

Since its conception in 1993 nearly 100 Habitat for Humanity homes have been built and sold in partnership with families in need nationwide. Credibility has been established within the housing sector in New Zealand. The organization is now in a position to expand its efforts in offering a sustainable housing solution to what is becoming an increasing social burden.

"Through providing safe and secure housing Habitat for Humanity is able to break the poverty cycle," explains Mr Cathro. "We see people turning from being dependent on society to becoming contributing members."

In light of this, Habitat for Humanity New Zealand is keen to work in partnership with the Minister of Housing to create a stronger mix of homeownership within New Zealand's larger rental housing communities and believes that by the making available of land, housing and funding for this purpose - the government will be taking positive steps to change our communities from the grass-roots level up.

Dedicated to eliminated poverty housing, Habitat for Humanity is an international ecumenical Christian ministry founded by Millard and Linda Fuller in the USA. The organization now based in 67 nations has built and sold more than 90,000 homes to partner families at no profit with zero-interest mortgages.

MEDIA RELEASE FROM HANITAT FOR HUMANITY

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