Blenheim gained more affordable rental homes. Mayor Nadine Taylor officially opened Marlborough Sustainable Housing Trust’s three 4-bedroom home project on Hutcheson Street in November 2023.

A $1.8m community loan from the Rātā Foundation provided cornerstone funding for the Hutcheson St project, which will be repaid from the rents and subsidies provided by Te Tūāpapa Kura Kāinga, Ministry for Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

When the homes were opened, the mayor said anyone would be proud to live there.

“I want to acknowledge the determined work done by our Sustainable Housing Trust over many years.

“We are short of all housing stock in Marlborough, but this is most acutely felt in the need for larger homes that lower-income families can afford.”

The Hutcheson St homes are managed by the Christchurch Methodist Mission, which selects tenants from families in transitional housing.

Trust Chair Dr Bev James says the Trust could not have contemplated either project without the support of Rātā Foundation and the Government through HUD.

“Both have provided the bricks-and-mortar funding to our Trust. Both we and Marlborough owe them a big thank you – and I’m sure those families who come to live in these warm, affordable, and sustainable homes will be applauding, too.”

Rātā Chief Executive Leighton Evans says the project directly aligned with Rātā funding priorities to ensure communities in need have equitable access to the facilities, resources, and opportunities that allow them to thrive.

“With housing stock low in Blenheim, there are often too few options for larger families. Projects like this provide options and fill a gap in the rental market by bringing homes with four double bedrooms.”

Marlborough Sustainable Housing Trust revealed a new five-unit development will go up on High Street after securing a further $2.18 million in funds.

“We are thrilled to be among those communities named as successful in the second round of the Affordable Housing Fund.

“We feel we are making a real difference in a housing market that’s especially hard on low-income families.

Another community loan from the Rātā Foundation will boost the new funding to buy the five new units.

Construction started towards the end of 2023.

Rents for the new double-story units are expected to be less than 80 percent of the median market rent for the type of home.

The homes are geared towards low- to moderate-income working households who struggle to pay market rents in Blenheim.