New Community Group Housing developments announced for Chch

Housing New Zealand has today announced plans to build five new purpose-built Community Group Housing properties at four different sites across the city. Housing New Zealand already operates more than 160 Community Group Housing homes. Community Group Housing are homes for government-funded organisations who have a contract to provide residential services for: - People who experience mental illness - People who have physical and intellectual disabilities, including children and elderly - Emergency Accommodation - Residential alcohol and drug services - Women who require refuge - Youth at risk - Supporting prisoner reintegration These homes are specifically designed for a broad variety of people with different life needs of all ages and lifestyles. The five new homes, which will replace Community Group Housing properties severely damaged in the Canterbury earthquakes, will be built by respected Christchurch builder Mike Greer Limited, a company with experience in building these specialist homes. Housing New Zealand’s National Manager (Tenancy Support Services) Karen Hocking says the investment into new Community Group Housing would help meet growing demand for properties in that sector. "There is a pressing need to replace damaged Community Group Housing. They are needed by groups helping high need customers and we’re thrilled we can show our ongoing commitment to this work by confirming we will be building five new purpose-built properties.’’ Each house will have six bedrooms, two bathrooms and internal access garages that can be used to store disability equipment such as hoists and shower trollies. Various community groups have already agreed to lease these properties for their customers. Construction will start early in the New Year and the new properties will be completed by mid-2016. Meanwhile, Housing New Zealand has been undertaking repairs to 163 Community Group Housing properties across Christchurch. This included a property in the central city badly damaged in the earthquakes This property, which has been completely repaired, now has double glazed windows, new floor coverings, thermal-backed curtains, roof insulation, new sheds and has been redecorated inside and out. Mrs Hocking said this repaired property was a great example of the work being done to repair and restore earthquake damaged Housing New Zealand properties across greater Christchurch. The Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Programme recently reached its target to complete repairs to 5000 earthquake damaged properties by the end of 2015. As at November 30 this year, it had completed 5032 repairs which was a great result for the organisation and its tenants, Mrs Hocking said.