Rātā Foundation Chair Glenn Livingstone & Marlborough Sustainable Housing Trust chair David Taylor cut the ribbon to open the homes.
More than 25 people from working families will soon be living in five spacious new 4-bedroom homes developed in Blenheim’s High St by the Marlborough Sustainable Housing Trust.
At the official opening (Thursday September 12) Trust chair David Taylor said the families will rent the homes at an affordable rental (80% of current market rental.)
“We wanted these homes for working families who are contributing to Marlborough’s economy and social infrastructure but still struggle to find somewhere to live, let alone pay full market prices.”
He said local developer Richard Anderson and his company RLA Construction had built the for the trust homes on-time, on-budget and to a high standard. “Anyone would be proud to call one of these their home.”
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David Taylor also thanked the Rātā Foundation which had provided funding to the trust under an innovative financing model to allow the homes to be built, along with support from the previous Government’s Affordable Rental Fund.
Rātā Foundation Chair Glenn Livingstone said based on research, Rātā identified housing as one of the four key areas where its funding could make a difference.
“Access to affordable housing is one of the key needs we see in communities,” says Glenn. “By walking alongside community organisations like Marlborough Sustainable Housing Trust, we aim to support them to maximise their impact and sustain it, making a difference in the lives of those with the greatest need.”
The Christchurch Methodist Mission, which will manage the tenancies for the housing trust, says tenants will be moving in over the next few weeks.
David Taylor says with the High St homes complete and an earlier 3 home complex opened late last year in Hutcheson St, his trust is now looking for further opportunities to help ease Marlborough’s housing crisis. “We would love to hear from anyone who may have a large section they’d consider providing to us. We could then use that as leverage to build more homes for workers and others in our community who are struggling to find or afford somewhere to live.”