Overall Housing Heroes winner Janet with ŌCHT board deputy chairperson Pam Sharp.

Janet’s neighbours probably don’t need the validation of a certificate to know they’re living with a community hero.

She was the overall winner in this year’s Housing Heroes Awards, presented at the first ŌCHT Tenant AGM at Tūranga on November 29.

Janet was nominated for her unwavering neighbourly support, from helping a neighbour through difficult times, through to her volunteer work and sharing of fresh veggies.

“She’s also kind, helpful, courageous, loyal and honest. She deserves to be recognised as our complex hero,” a neighbour said.

Janet modestly accepted her award at an event attended by 50 people that recognised more than 20 tenants who’ve gone above and beyond for their neighbours and community.

Among them was Luke, who called an ambulance when a neighbour collapsed, visted him in hospital and then helped him out and took him to appointments after bringing him home.

Tenants Carole, Samuel and Helen were commended for their community support and for championing community activities, while residents Andy, Gloria and Andrew were awarded for their selfless work caring for their shared spaces.

Tenant Advisory Group incoming chairwoman Amanda Duncan was impressed by the nominations, which recognised everything from food bank parcel delivering to sharing time with neighbours who need a helping hand.

“There’s a lot to be proud of,” she said.

ŌCHT Tenant AGM

ŌCHT’s first Tenant Annual General Meeting was a chance for tenants to learn more about the Trust’s work over the past financial year.

ŌCHT chief executive Cate Kearney and ŌCHT board chairman Alex Skinner went through some of the key aspects of the Trust’s Annual Report and encouraged tenants to keep providing feedback.

Next year, the Trust will trial Tenant Insights Groups (TIGs) to gain insights on issues of interest to our communities. One of the first groups will have a look at the annual tenant survey.

Cate and Alex explained how housing improvements and building new homes meant ŌCHT offered 367 new people an affordable home in the year ending June 2023.

It also meant the number of bedrooms the Trust could offer grew from 2330 to 2760 over the year.

Eighty three people who were previously homeless were housed as part of OCHT’s partnership with Housing First.

The Trust’s call centre was kept busy with more than 30,000 calls, and the Trust’s maintenance team managed nearly 10,000 jobs and repairs.

Some of those calls were to engage with ŌCHT’s employment coaching and digital services. More than a dozen tenants started their employment journeys and more than 500 now have broadband through ŌCHT’s digital inclusion initiative.

If you’re a tenant interested in being a part of a Tenant Insights Group and would like to see a particular topic covered, please contact ŌCHT on 0800 624 456 or email admin@ocht.org.nz

READ MORE: ŌCHT annual general meeting 2023 presentation
READ MORE: ŌCHT annual report 2023