For immediate release: 20 May 2008
Community Housing Aotearoa supports the new Shared Equity Pilot
Community Housing Aotearoa is delighted by the government's pre-budget
announcement of a shared equity pilot scheme. The announcement of the $35m
two-year shared equity pilot could enable up to 700 households to get into
the housing market. The scheme will run in five of New Zealand's highest
house price markets: Auckland, Wellington, Nelson, Christchurch and
Queenstown.
Community Housing Aotearoa has identified housing affordability as one of
its key issues. Director Thérèse Quinlivan says any scheme by the government
that works to improve affordability either in the home ownership market or
the rented sector is welcomed.
Supporting the shared equity scheme Ms Quinlivan says she looks forward to
the government releasing further measures that will address housing
affordability.
Members of Community Housing Aotearoa have voiced their concerns that the
scheme might favour couples without children and therefore exclude larger
families from the shared equity scheme. Ms Quinlivan feels any future
programme needs to be flexible to accommodate different types of buyers.
Community Housing Aotearoa is keen to see HNZC, territorial authorities,
developers and the community housing sector work together in partnership to
provide more solutions for aspiring first home owners. Community Housing
Aotearoa is the umbrella body for community housing groups and has 170
members nationwide.
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