Helping hands lift families out of the drudgery of paying rent

Voniani Nawaqavanua holds his son Juita, 3, outside their Habitat home. On the stairs are his wife Ulu (right), son Jordan, 4, and family friend Linda Atileo.

Ulu and Voniani Nawaqavanua are model citizens. They work hard, help the less fortunate and teach their children to respect the community. But being good citizens does not guarantee the cornerstone of a secure, happy family - a decent home.

Ulu and Voniani came to New Zealand from Fiji in 1996 as part of a Christian missionary organisation.

Since leaving the mission in 1999, they have struggled to achieve a goal many New Zealanders take for granted.

They worked hard, saved what money they could and prayed for a new home for their five children, away from the over-crowded two-bedroom flat that was all they could afford.

Habitat for Humanity was the answer to their prayers.

Founded in America in 1976, Habitat for Humanity is a non-profit organisation responsible for building more than 160,000 houses in 100 countries.

Twelve of the countries, including New Zealand, are classified as developed.

Habitat Manukau's executive director, Warren Jack said New Zealanders tended to look at housing problems abroad, unaware they existed at home.

"Most people don't recognise it at all. What's the need? You don't see it if you just drive around. Yet there are countless examples.

"There were 17 people living in a three-bedroom house and four kids sleeping in a tent in the back garden. So this does exist."

Habitat's aim, he says, "Is a world where everyone has at least a simple decent house to live in".

Three criteria qualify families for Habitat homes.

They must have a genuine need, they have to be able to buy the house, and they must be prepared to commit 500 hours of labour to the organisation.

Families buy the houses on an interest-free loan. They pay for the land and the trade cost of materials, but the construction labour is voluntary.

In Manukau, a typical repayment for a Habitat home is $150 a week.

Many families in South Auckland live hand to mouth, spending all the money they earn each week just surviving, says Mr Jack.

"Maybe by the last day of the week they're even a bit lean on food because they have no reserve money.

"Then the washing machine packs up but they can't pay the rent and fix the washing machine. So they fix the washing machine and the landlord turfs them out.

"It's a hopeless aspect. You're in a trap where you have no apparent way to get out. That's where Habitat for Humanity helps . It breaks the poverty cycle by giving a hand up, and once they get to that new level the horizon opens up for them".

Renting is often a temporary option that discourages families from putting down roots and becoming more closely involved in their communities. For Habitat, home ownership is a key to building strong communities.

Houses are built in groups to foster community spirit. Neighbouring families work on each others' houses.

One such project is the Clendon Community Renewal Project, in which Habitat is building 29 houses in partnership with Housing New Zealand, Manukau City Council and the Clendon Residents Group.

The area was dominated by low-value rental properties, and few people stayed there for long.

Private developers were not interested and Housing NZ did not buy land itself. But it was able to provide low-cost money for Habitat to buy vacant sections.

Voniani and Ulu Nawaqavanua, and their five children aged between 3 and 11, are one of the families to get a new home in Clendon.

The selection involved interviews, home visits, credit, residency and police checks.

After six months of hoping and praying, they became one of six families selected for this year.

The attitude on a Habitat site is inclusive. Everyone can work on anything with the right supervision.

"Whatever they are doing that is where you put your hands," Ulu said. "They show you and away you go. I'm up on the roof, going 'Oh my gosh if only my children could see me'."

Their new four-bedroom house will change their lives. Their three-year-old son, Jiuta, and one of his brothers, Jordan, run excitedly from room to room.

Jiuta has a narrow airway, and has been in and out of hospital since he was two months old.

A tube to help his breathing has recently been removed and, for the first time he can talk to his parents.

"When he cried you couldn't hear him, you just saw the tears coming down his face. It was very difficult for us. Now he has to learn how to talk," Ulu said.

Last month, a traditional Fijian celebration welcomed them to their new home.

Voniani and Ulu are careful with their income. They avoid hire purchase and have no debts. Ulu said this gave Habitat the confidence to choose them.

Voniani's job brings in a regular income. But the cost of housing in South Auckland relative to wages made it difficult to buy an adequate house. The median house price in Manukau is $320,000; the median income was $19,000 at the time of the 2001 census.

A report by the Massey University real estate analysis unit, estimated a Manukau family saving $70 a month towards the minimum deposit would take more than 35 years to reach their goal.

The report examined a 2001 Statistics New Zealand survey to determine the average monthly household saving in New Zealand to be $89.

For households paying rent, this figure dropped to $44. Many families have few dollars spare at the end of the month.

The NZ Housing Strategy discussion document says most countries judge housing to be unaffordable if it costs more than 25 per cent to 30 per cent of the net income of low-income households.

The Centre for Housing Research Aotearoa says more than 41 per cent of households in the Auckland region exceed the 25 per cent cost level.

Having proven their need for housing and their ability to pay, Voniani and Ulu had to commit 500 hours of labour to build houses. Far from being a hardship, it was another reason to join.

"Families almost always exceed their 500 hours," says Warren Jack. "We've got one guy who started doing his hours in 1995 and he's still with us."

Voniani and Ulu are accustomed to giving aid, so they found receiving it a pleasantly different experience. To have other people come and help you ... this must be a reward for all the years of work. It's a blessing," Voniani said.

Ulu and Voniani are a Habitat success story. The helping hand has broadened their horizons. Ulu is now studying at college for a teaching diploma.

Mr Jack does not see Habitat's role as limited to South Auckland.

"What I look forward to is the time when in New Zealand we can't identify any remaining problems. But I still see us as having a responsibility to help others overseas in developing countries."

For every house built in South Auckland, Habitat Manukau makes a donation to build a house in Fiji.

It has adopted the village of Navula and over four years volunteers are renovating four homes and building 14 new ones.

People involved are passionate about the task. Retired businessmen talk about a second, more meaningful career.

Success is not discussed in financial terms but in how their "Habitat families" are growing and prospering.