Published on 7th of February, 2025
On February 5th CMM celebrated the opening of 14 new accessible units at Wesley Village.
The number of people older than 65 on the social housing register has more than doubled over the past five years and is growing at a rate faster than any other age group.
“Rising rents and inadequate housing supply are driving many older people into housing insecurity,” says CMM Executive Director Jill Hawkey. “We view these new units as a source of hope for people over 65 years of age who need affordable and secure quality housing.”
The new units, opened by Housing Minister Chris Bishop, are a mix of social housing and affordable rental homes. They all feature solar panels to help reduce household running costs and have been designed to be accessible for people with functional limitations.
“We’ve ensured that it is easier and safer to move around by including wider accessways and thresholds, and level transition zones. And we’ve installed grab rails and non-slip flooring in the bathrooms to reduce the risk of falls,” says Jill. “Generous funding support from the previous Government’s Affordable Housing Fund and Rātā Foundation has made this extension possible.”
Amidst a decline in home ownership and a rapidly aging population, and at a time when most new retirement villages have a business model that is too expensive for those without a home to sell, the options for older people without assets are few.
“This trend is deeply worrying and means that affordable, accessible and secure units like those at Wesley Village are in great demand,” says Jill.
