Housing Development / Long-Term Support

Visionwest’s Housing Development mahi has continued to grow in direct response to the need for more warm, dry, secure homes for whānau across Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland.

We began the year with 88 homes owned by the Trust and a clear commitment to respond to the Government’s Auckland 550 funding programme. Through this opportunity, and in partnership with Government, Visionwest purchased 77 brand-new homes across West and South Auckland. These homes are already making a real difference for whānau, with 74 ready for renting and already tenanted.

This growth reflects Visionwest’s ongoing commitment to practical, long-term housing solutions. Each new home represents more than a property purchase. It is a place where whānau can begin to experience stability, safety, and a stronger foundation for the future.

Progress has also continued on the apartment development that sits at the heart of Kāinga o te Tūmanako, the Village of Hope. This cornerstone project remains on time and on budget, with the apartments expected to be ready for tenanting toward the end of the calendar year. Once complete, they will add further housing options within a wider vision of community, support, and belonging.

To strengthen this growing area of work, Visionwest also created a new Building and Development Manager role. This adds specialist capability to an already skilled team and supports the organisation’s ability to plan, manage, and deliver housing development projects well.

The year has not been without challenges. The Auckland 550 fund became fully subscribed, meaning Visionwest had to pause further purchasing through that pathway, which means new approaches will be needed to continue increasing the supply of homes.

Another challenge has been the shortage of larger new builds available in the market. While Visionwest was able to secure 10 larger homes in South Auckland, most developers are currently focused on building smaller two-bedroom properties.

Even with these challenges, the year has shown what can be achieved through partnership, careful stewardship, and a clear commitment to whānau wellbeing.