Multi-generational housing opens in Mairehau
Children, parents and grandparents can live comfortably together in purpose-built warm, dry and efficient community housing just opened in Mairehau, Christchurch.
Ōtautahi Community Housing Trust this morning officially opened the first of its new homes designed with Pacific multi-generational family living in mind.
Before the ribbon was cut, ŌCHT trustee Dr Sina Cotter Tait paid tribute to the many people and orgnisations that contributed to homes that recognise one size does not fit all, particularly for Pacific people.
The collective mahi behind the Splice Design conceived, Citycare Property-built homes was appropriately expressed in a Samoan proverb: “we come from different paths of the forest but we are connected by this one cause”, she said.
Dr Cotter Tait and ŌCHT chief executive Cate Kearney said a great community housing home provides a strong foundation for family wellbeing.
“Every family context is different so we’re doing what we can to provide new homes that can support different family types, for those most in need,” Ms Kearney said.
“The Trust has delivered more than 120 new two- to five-bedroom homes since 2019 and we’ve continued to broaden what we offer with these new homes in Mairehau.
“Both these homes are designed with large Pacific families in mind, with shared and private spaces for matua, children and grandchildren to live with and support each other.
“They’re homes that will have close, extended family at their heart.”
The homes were designed in consultation with people in the Pacific community and are built for comfort and connection, and to maximise affordable living.
Both have an open plan kitchen, dining and living space for everyday activities and a separate living space for formal occasions and visitors.
Each has a ground floor bedroom and accessible ensuite for older family. There are four bedrooms and a family bathroom upstairs.
High-rated insulation, passive solar gain, and energy efficient heat pumps and heat transfer systems will minimise energy costs for big families.
“They’ll be warm, dry and efficient and they’ll affordably support multigenerational families for decades to come,” Ms Kearney said.
The development is the Trust’s 15th and the latest to add family homes to a portfolio historically weighted toward singles and couples in one-bedroom homes.
Market rental growth and the intergenerational impact of declining home ownership made it tougher for larger families to find affordable homes, Ms Kearney said.
At any given time, the Ministry of Social Development’s Public Housing Register has nearly 100 applicants waiting for four bedroom-plus homes in Christchurch.
“That means at least 400 people – applicants, partners, children and grandparents – are in accommodation that does not meet their needs,” Ms Kearney said.
"They’re sobering numbers, and we’ll continue to do what we can to provide to much-needed affordable housing for families and whānau, to help build stronger communities."
ŌCHT’s first multigenerational homes were finished as the first tenants moved into the Trust’s first – and the first of its kind in New Zealand – affordable mixed-tenure family housing community in Somerfield.
At Carey Street, ŌCHT also offers low-median earners affordable market rentals priced at 79% of market rent, and leasehold ownership homes with prices reflecting the cost of development.
“With a variety of options, we’re working to help people on low-to- median incomes, and people in acute housing need, into safe, secure, and affordable places to call home,” Ms Kearney says.
Since 2019, ŌCHT has delivered more than 310 homes and 500 bedrooms across new and redeveloped sites in Halswell, Hornby, Mairehau, New Brighton, Opawa, Richmond, Spreydon, St Albans, St Martins, Sydenham and Waltham.