Family homes arriving in time of need

Willard Street has shared spaces for people to meet - and to grow.

Ōtautahi Community Housing Trust (ŌCHT) is opening new family homes at a time of sustained need for affordable, multi-bedroom public rental homes in Christchurch.

ŌCHT will on Monday, September 11 2023, officially open 35 homes on Willard Street.

It is ŌCHT’s 13th new community since 2019 and the latest built to achieve New Zealand Green Building Council Homestar 7.

ŌCHT chief executive Cate Kearney says families will join couples and individuals in a community of homes carefully crafted for a variety of households, and for comfort and sustainability.

The homes are built from low maintenance, permanent materials to be warm, dry and sustainable for decades to come.

The north-facing one-, two- three- and five-bedroom homes have high-performing thermal envelopes which means it will be easier and cheaper for tenants to keep their homes comfortable year-round.

Build innovations such as the use of timesaving prefabricated structural insulated panels further ensure the homes can be efficiently and cost-effectively kept healthy for decades to come.

“Our newest homes are built of low maintenance and permanent materials and that they’ll help us sustainably provide housing well into the future – but what’s most important to us is we’ll meet our aim of providing affordable homes that’ll be comfortable and sustainable for those who need them.”

Landscaped grounds feature shared common spaces where children can play and easy access to Simeon Park complements tenant’s private courtyards and sunny balconies.

The homes are all north facing to maximise the sun, adding to the effectiveness of their high performing thermal envelopes.

The homes are just a short walk from Addington School, bus routes and shops, making it the ideal place for a mix of household types and sizes.

Nearly half the new homes have two or more bedrooms, recognising the pressing and ongoing need for affordable multi-bedroom public rentals in Christchurch.

ŌCHT’s new tenants come from the Ministry of Social Development’s Public Housing Register. In June, 759 of 1947 registered for housing in Christchurch needed two or more bedrooms.

Many were not in settled accommodation. In June, the Community Housing Aotearoa Conference learned 700 children were in emergency or transitional housing in the first three months of this year.

“We need a good and growing mix of affordable community rental homes in our city, so we’ve been adding family homes to our portfolio since we opened our first new community in 2019,” Ms Kearney says.

“It’s why we’re building back better, adding to our city’s legacy of providing social housing to those in need and helping families secure a home where their kids can settle and grow.”

Since 2019, ŌCHT has delivered 270 homes and 410 bedrooms at new and redeveloped sites in Halswell, Hornby, New Brighton, Opawa, Richmond, Spreydon, St Albans, St Martins, Sydenham and Waltham.

Willard Street is the first ŌCHT development supported by private sector investment. Generate KiwiSaver Scheme partnered with Community Finance to provide a $14 million development loan early this year.

The Christchurch City Council owned and operated 26 weatherboard bedsits at Willard Street from 1939. The property was transferred to ŌCHT as part of the Christchurch Housing Accord.

The new community will be officially opened on Monday, September 11, 2023.