Affordable housing matters to Kāpiti
Access to suitable and affordable housing is pivotal to one of Kāpiti Coast District Council’s core long-term goals – a resilient community that feels safe and connected and has support for basic needs.
A warm safe home is something many take for granted but, like other parts of Aotearoa New Zealand and the world, we’re facing an unprecedented housing shortage.
The housing shortage is causing stress for many people. It’s not just about homelessness, although that is certainly the experience of some in our community. Rather, we don’t always have the right housing in the right places for peoples’ individual needs.
A lack of options means people are increasingly trapped in unsuitable accommodation. It skews the whole housing system: we see large families living in tiny motel rooms or transitional housing, while elderly people rattle around in their former family home, unable to downsize in their familiar neighbourhoods near friends and family.
Housing problems have a domino effect, causing or compounding other stresses on people, like paying essential bills, accessing educational or work opportunities, and poor mental and/or physical health.
It’s all interconnected, but housing is often the first domino to fall. It affects our identity, wellbeing, and security, and contributes to issues that can span generations.
In 2022, Council published a report giving a comprehensive picture of the state of housing need in our district and asked in our Long-term Plan if we should take a bigger role in housing. The answer was a clear ‘yes’.
This view was reinforced when we consulted on our 2022 housing strategy. As a result, we’ve been working on strengthening productive partnerships with iwi, central government, the private sector, community housing providers and the community.
Our progress
We’ve made progress over the past two years, such as:
• partnering with Ngā Hapū o Ōtaki, landowners, and developers to successfully access a $29.3 million government contribution to roading and water infrastructure to support housing needs in Ōtaki;
• starting work on setting up an affordable housing trust to provide more affordable rental and ownership units in the district;
• reviewing our older persons housing portfolio in readiness for engaging with you soon through the Long-term Plan on how we can provide a better service and more homes for older people in need;
• supporting providers to establish additional transitional housing services in our district; and
• improving our ability to help to respond to homelessness in the district in partnership with others.
Official statistics on the number of people waiting for social housing don’t necessarily provide a complete picture of the true need out in our community. Community and personal wellbeing rely on getting housing right, and this remains a priority for Council.
Read ‘Not Just a House, A Life’ at
kapiticoast.govt.nz/housing-needs-assessment