Focus On | Nelson
Nelson’s affordable housing solution By Rosie Duff
According to realestate. co.nz, only 12,932 homes were available for purchase in New Zealand at the end of December last year. Currently, Nelson is one of the areas facing the brunt of New Zealand’s housing shortage, with available stock plummeting by 50 percent over the past 12 months. In response to the urgent demand for more affordable housing in the area, a $12 million dollar fund was established in November 2020, following the Nelson City Council’s sale of its pensioner housing to Kainga Ora. Among the midst of public frustration about its slow progress, ‘phase one’ of the Council’s Housing Reserve proposal was initiated earlier this month, with $2 million in grant funding towards organisations able to increase the supply moderately stable incomes who struggle to find warm, secure housing. of inexpensive units officially announced on Tuesday October 5. “Every day, there is another article about the housing crisis. Every day, people are forced Representatives from Habitat for Humanity to shift because they lack secure, affordable Nelson and the Nelson Tasman Housing housing. Every day, people are getting sick due to Trust publicly commented acknowledging poor quality housing. the substantial effect the funding will have in enabling them to initiate affordable housing “The housing crisis leaves none of us untouched projects in the near future for low-income and we can only address it by working together. earners or families who are not eligible for “The housing reserve is a game-changer for Government housing. Nelson, and by releasing $2m now, we can Similarly, Nelson Mayor Rachel Reese says help much-needed projects get off the ground the grants will permit the city to assist those in the short term, while working to ensure whose lives are negatively impacted by the the remainder of the fund can make a lasting housing shortage. contribution to housing in Nelson. “Our community needs affordable housing now, “We frequently talk about housing like it’s just and as housing costs continue to rise, we must a building, but what we are really talking about act quickly. is a home; a safe haven, a sanctuary, a stable “People who are our friends and neighbours are foundation. A place for children to be raised, struggling to access a fundamental human right, older couples to enjoy their twilight years, and newlyweds to establish themselves; for laughter, secure and safe housing. love and memories. “We want to support projects that will “So today, we have taken an important step provide safe, well-designed homes that keep to help create a secure, safe, stable new start people connected to their communities,” for people by supporting homes,” the deputy the mayor explains. Mayor concludes. Deputy Mayor Judene Edgar, reveals she is looking forward to seeing proposals for housing Applicants are required to display a level of that prop up individuals in the “middle” on co-investment from other sources or partners
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in conjunction with the amount of Housing Reserve grant money requested.
will be acceptable before having to be returned to the council.
Submissions will be chosen dependant on how well they meet the council’s criteria, and the applicant’s track record.
Plans should also be in keeping with environmentally-friendly and low-maintenance design.
Specifically, candidates must pledge to commencing construction within 12 months, however due to Covid 19 and other potential ongoing factors, a delay of up to two years
Applications to phase one of the Housing Reserve grants programme will remain open for four weeks, from 7 October 2021 to 3 November 2021, with those applications then being taken to a full council meeting on December 9. CT
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