Conference addresses the challenge of housing for the needy

Monday, 23 June 2014, 10:35 am
Press Release: Community Housing Aotearoa

Conference addresses the challenge of housing for needy New Zealanders

The challenge of how to provide community housing for New Zealanders in most need will be under the spotlight in Nelson next week (July 3).

About 150 delegates from the sector will be attending a conference organised by Community Housing Aotearoa which will take stock of what is happening and what needs to happen in the future.

The Director of Community Housing Aotearoa Scott Figenshow, says it is a crucial time for the sector.

“We know we need 20,000 houses for people in need the goal is to get them built over the next six years. It is a challenge that the sector is very keen to take on,” he says.

Scott Figenshow says research shows that the community housing sector can provide two to three times the value for the taxpayer than a government spend on the same project.

“We know the benefits of the community housing model which sees developments with a mix of rent and shared ownership properties and we know we can achieve that in a very cost effective way.”

He says CHA will be presenting its vision and announce its investment plan for achieving the affordable housing target at the conference.

Other speakers at the conference include Stephen Selwood, Chief Executive of the New Zealand Council for Infrastructure Development who will tell the conference to get better value, we need to be thinking bigger in our approach.

Speaker Carol Croce, Community Housing Federation of Australia Executive Director will talk about Australia’s experiences and the need for governments to provide consistent long term funding of projects.

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Community Housing Aotearoa

Nga Wharerau o Aotearoa

Community Housing Aotearoa is the peak body for New Zealand's community housing sector. Our 110 members build and manage affordable and social housing.

Our Vision is to make sure every New Zealander is well-housed in a warm, safe, dry and affordable home. This is a basic human right.

We work to support the growth and development of community housing providers to enable them to provide affordable and social housing.

We want to demonstrate that community housing is a critical element alongside private and government owned housing. No one can do it alone.

Community Housing Aotearoa aims to:

1. be the voice of the community housing sector
2. build capacity and foster collaboration
3. promote best practice in housing policy
4. champion quality and excellence.

Contact Community Housing Aotearoa

• Website - communityhousing.org.nz/
• Our Place - Learn how we think this can be achieved
• Phone - +64 4 385 8722
• About us - Our 2021 annual report is online here
• Email - support@communityhousing.org.nz
• Link - Members directory
• Physical Address - Level 11, Ranchhod Tower, 39 The Terrace/102-112 Lambton Quay, Wellington