Housing fund to help people in greatest need

A Habitat for Humanity home placed on site in Cannons Creek, Porirua. Photo / NZ Herald

Independent social housing initiatives are set to get a $37.35 million funding boost, the Government announced today.

Minister of Housing Phil Heatley said people with social housing needs, including low-income vulnerable families, are to benefit from funding administered by the Social Housing Unit.

The unit was set up last year as a key part of recent government initiatives in social housing. Mr Heatley said it aimed to meet the growing need for social and affordable housing by allocating funding and forming partnerships with third-party providers.

The highly targeted funding is directed at non-government housing providers across New Zealand.

In the Niche Fund, west Auckland's VisionWest has been granted $1.2 million to purchase land and build six houses for its target group - low-income, vulnerable families who often end up homeless. He said the money has been spread across the country and is going to a good mix of specialist providers.

The funding would to go:

The Nelson Tasman Housing Trust has received $1 million to provide eight affordable market rental properties for families with up to four children.

Bays Community Housing Trust ($530,000, North Shore, Auckland); Tauwhao Te Ngare Trust ($1.31 million, Bay of Plenty); Whatever It Takes Trust

Habitat for Humanity, Hawkes Bay - $500,000.

Habitat for Humanity, Northland - $50,000.

Accessible Properties NZ, Christchurch - $560,000.