Kaikohe family to be proud homeowners
A Kaikohe family living in an overcrowded, deteriorating and damp home are elated to be chosen for a programme that will make them homeowners.
Habitat for Humanity Northland’s Home Ownership Programme will assist Athena and Te Akau and their seven children into a brand new four bedroom home in Sydney St, Kaikohe.
Four of their children have asthma while the youngest, Tawera, suffers from chronic lung disease.
Upon completing sweat equity hours, through working on the home or in the community, the family will start paying off the value of the home by making affordable payments to Habitat.
‘‘We are very happy and feel so grateful,’’ Athena says.
‘‘This will make a difference to every part of our lives and our children’s health. It will be a new start for us all.’’
Te Akau says that home ownership will create a real foundation for his family.
Habitat operations manager Diane Coleman says the initiative is a rent to own scheme.
‘‘There has to be a housing need and at least one family member needs to be working.
‘‘The family must be willing to partner with Habitat.’’
Habitat covers the whole of Northland and the home’s location is also dependent on land availability.
Two hundred volunteers will come together for the ‘Helping Hands Build’ in Auckland from April 3-21 to build the Kaikohe home.
Habitat for Humanity Northland Events and Marketing Manager Laura Welsby says the family have been living with Te Akau’s mother and sister for almost three years.
‘‘The support from their whanau has been incredible but they are very excited to have their own space.’’
Welsby says their new home will have a positive impact on the family’s health.
Te Akau says, ‘‘We tried to prepare ourselves for the decision to go either way and now feel so overwhelmed, shocked and thankful.’’
The home will be moved up from Auckland at the end of April before finishing off the final preparations ready for the family to move in July.
The Kaikohe home will be the 44th in Northland to be built as part of the assisted home ownership programme.
Every 24 hours Habitat for Humanity completes 115 homes around the world.
The needs of all the families are diverse.
The organisation also helps those who have been struck by disaster.