Helping customers maintain community connections

As part of this work, Kāinga Ora has signed an agreement to lease around 100 one-and two-bedroom homes at 11 Church Street.

The apartments are leased from Kirva Trust, a charitable trust set up by Maurice and Kaye Clarke to provide housing and support to those in Wellington most in need.

Greg Groufsky Regional Director Greater Wellington says:

Dixon Street flats

“The Dixon Street Flats are old and no longer fit for purpose and we are still working through a decision regarding the building’s future. This is a complex process and will take time to work through but regardless of the path forward for the Flats, our customers would need to move from their homes.”

“To achieve the best outcome for our customers, we have been working closely with individuals and families living in the Dixon Street Flats over the past few months and from early December 2022, customers will be supported to move to new homes on Church Street.”

The process will follow a staged approached with the first customers moving this week after recently viewing the apartments. The lease for 11 Church Street is for ten years and will provide time to work through what needs to happen with the Flats.

“This is not a temporary measure and allows us to explore options for the Dixon Street. It also means our customers will have a warm, dry place to call home that is within the same community they have already built connections in, including support services.”

The size of the building accommodates all of the customers at Dixon Street, with some customers taking the opportunity to move outside of the CBD.

Any remaining homes will be allocated to individuals and families on the Ministry of Social Development’s Housing Register with the highest priority for a home of that size and in that location.

“We are pleased that we have found a solution that potentially means little disruption for our customers who wish to stay in the city and means they are able to maintain the connections they have in the community.”