Community Housing Development
Victoria Avenue Whanganui
In December 2020, Home in Place provided the keys to new residents of the Whanganui development.
The development features 26 brand new one-and-two-bedroom apartments. To meet local needs the development also included two, three-bedroom units for young families. The units all have garden spaces or balconies, some are have views to Mount Ruapehu.
The development on Victoria Avenue was an adapted reuse of a former motel and bar by Soho Developments who specialise in delivering brand new social housing units.
Local kaumātua, led by John Mahi, blessed the units, which opened for business on 23rd December, providing a home and early Christmas for the new tenants.
All of the tenants had previously been living in emergency or transitional housing that did not meet their long term needs.
Our Partners
The Soho Group is committed to delivering high quality, safe, warm and healthy homes that are available to a broader cross-section of the Whanganui community.
The Ministry of Housing and Urban Development is responsible for strategy, policy, funding, monitoring and regulation of New Zealand’s housing and urban development system.
It will provide funding for the project over the contract period.
frequently asked questions
When did the development open?
The development opened in December 2020 with the first tenants moving in shortly thereafter. The property is currently fully occupied.
About the Residents
Due to the typology of the housing available, there is a mix of older and single person households, couples and families with children.
How are community housing tenants selected?
To be eligible for community housing, applicants need to be on the Ministry of Social Development (MSD) Social Housing Register. Eligibility is based on the assessed need (i.e. priority rating) of the applicant and their individual housing requirements (e.g. # bedrooms, location and modifications).
MSD and HUD continue to liaise on the tenanting of the development to ensure a tenant mix that is sustainable for the community housing provider and supports the successful integration of all the residents into their new community.