HIF supports affordable housing in Nelson

  • Phil Heatley
Housing

A provider of housing for low income families based in Nelson is set to benefit from the Government’s Housing Innovation Fund (HIF).

Housing Minister Phil Heatley has announced Habitat for Humanity will receive $240,000 from HIF ($168k as a term loan and a $72K grant) which it will supplement with $300,000 of its own money and resources to build two four-bedroom homes for families on low incomes.

A total of $20 million was set aside in the last budget for 2010/2011 for HIF and Maori Demonstration projects designed to deliver social, niche and affordable housing.

“The aim of HIF is to grow the supply of social housing. By working with third sector providers of social housing we can make Government money stretch much further,” says Mr Heatley.

“The $3 million already allocated to HIF projects this year will result in 26 new properties. This is an amazing return on the Government’s investment and is proof that this model of partnership delivers real benefits,” he said.

The first house has been completed and the building of the second house will commence shortly.

A further nine HIF projects and three Māori Demonstration Partnership projects are currently being developed into funding proposals. It is expected that these projects will be presented for approval by June this year.

Notes

Projects approved to date include:

Ngati Mutunga O Wharekauri Asset Holding Co Ltd, Te One Settlement, Chatham Islands – will build five houses on general title land in Te One, Chatham Islands. There will be three 3-bedroom houses and two 1-bedroom units for kaumatua. The houses will be used as affordable rentals.

The New Zealand Housing Options Trust will build six houses in South Auckland to be used as affordable rentals for low-income people with mental illness, and physical disabilities. It will receive $1 million and contribute $1 million.

Habitat for Humanity – Tauranga will build three 3-bedroom homes in Te Puke. These homes will be available for families on low incomes who can rent to buy. It will receive $300,000 and contribute $330,000.

The Auckland based social housing provider, Community of Refuge Trust (CORT) had $1 million in HIF funding approved and will contribute $1 million of its own money to provide ten 1-bedroom affordable rental homes in the Tamaki area.