Social housing proposals adopted for consultation

Christchurch City Council’s proposals about its future involvement in social housing have been adopted for public consultation at today’s Council meeting.

The Council is currently re-evaluating its role in providing a social housing service, considering options that would allow it greater flexibility in the future ownership, management and development of its social housing portfolio.

The Council’s preferred options are aimed at ensuring the financial sustainability of the portfolio, while also acting as a catalyst for the provision of up to 1,000 additional social and affordable housing units in the city.

Deputy Mayor Vicki Buck says the Council looks forward to receiving the views of the community during the upcoming consultation process.

“Ensuring that our most vulnerable community members continue to have access to good-quality, affordable social housing is one of the Council’s top priorities.

“As such, it’s vital that we hear what people have to say about the steps we are proposing to take, so that we can make decisions that are fully informed and take into account the range of views in our community,” she says.

Key components of the Council’s proposals:
• Establish as a limited liability company an entity, in which the Council will have and interest of up to 49 per cent, that will be eligible for registration as a community housing provider under the provisions of the Housing Restructuring and Tenancy Matters (Community Housing Provider) Regulations 2014

• Initially subscribe for all the shares in the new company and appoint the first board of directors

• Lease to the entity an appropriate mix of social housing assets

• Gift or sell to the entity certain assets form the Council’s social housing portfolio

• Transfer the ownership or control of some of the Council’s social housing portfolio to either an entity in which the Council has an interest of up to 49 per cent, or to a third party

• Enter into arrangements with the Council’s City Housing partners and others for the redevelopment of some of the land currently used for social housing.
Public consultation on the Council’s proposals opens on 21 May, 2014, and will close at 5pm on 26 June, 2014.

Submissions can be made through the Council’s website (www.ccc.govt.nz/HaveYourSay), or in writing to the Council, after the consultation opening date.

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