New Community Group Housing developments for Christchurch

17 June, 2016

New Community Group Housing developments for Christchurch

Housing New Zealand has announced plans to build five new purpose-built Community Group Housing properties at four different sites across the city.

Housing New Zealand already operates more than 160 such properties across greater Christchurch.

Community Group Housing are rental homes for government-funded organisations who have a contract to provide residential services for:

People who experience mental illness

People who have physical and intellectual disabilities, including children and elderly

Emergency Accommodation

Residential alcohol and drug services

Women who require refuge

Youth at risk

Supporting prisoner reintegration

These are homes for a broad variety of people with different life needs of all ages and lifestyles.

The five new homes, which will replace Community Group Housing properties severely damaged in the Canterbury earthquakes, will be built by respected Christchurch builder Mike Greer Limited which has experience in building these specialist homes.

Housing New Zealand Senior Development Manager Isaac Walker says the investment into new Community Group Housing would help meet growing demand for properties in that sector.

“There is a pressing need to replace damaged Community Group Housing. They are needed by groups helping high need customers and we’re pleased we can show our ongoing commitment to this work by confirming we will be building five new purpose-built properties.’’

Each house will have six bedrooms, two bathrooms and internal access garages that can be used to store disability equipment such as hoists and shower trollies.

Various community groups have already agreed to lease these properties for their customers.

Construction is expected to start in July and the new houses should be completed by December.

The Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Programme formally winds up on June 30 after completing its work to repair more than 5000 earthquake damaged properties and the construction of up to 700 new warm dry homes.

Mr Walker says this programme has been a great result for the organisation but, more importantly, thousands of tenants across greater Christchurch.

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