Debate Argument in Support of Option 2: Broadening the Purpose of the Housing Reserve Fund

Introduction: The proposal to broaden the purpose of the Housing Reserve Fund to include support for vulnerable housing alongside social and affordable housing has garnered significant support from the community. The feedback from residents highlights a collective recognition of the pressing housing issues in Nelson and a strong desire to address these through more inclusive and comprehensive use of the Housing Reserve Fund.

Main Points of Support:

1. Addressing Urgent Housing Needs: Many residents have expressed concerns about the lack of adequate shelter for the vulnerable populations in Nelson. The expansion of the Housing Reserve Fund to support projects like night shelters is seen as a critical step towards providing immediate relief to those in dire need of housing. This is not just about building homes but ensuring that the most vulnerable have access to safe and secure temporary accommodations.

2. Support for Innovative Housing Solutions: Comments from the community suggest a strong support for innovative housing solutions such as tiny homes, which could be ideal for areas affected by climate change. Additionally, there is a call for the use of existing resources like the cabins at the Brook Campground for temporary shelters, demonstrating a community-oriented approach to utilizing available assets creatively and effectively.

3. Enhancing Community Health and Safety: Housing is widely acknowledged as one of the most significant determinants of health. By expanding the scope of the Housing Reserve Fund, the council can partner with organizations to not only provide housing but also to ensure these homes meet health standards that prevent issues related to poor living conditions. This includes proposals for the inclusion of an Eco Design Advisor to ensure new developments are energy-efficient and meet the Healthy Home Standards.

4. Economic and Social Benefits: Providing support for housing to vulnerable and low-income residents can have broad social and economic benefits. It can reduce urban sprawl, decrease congestion, and prevent the environmental degradation associated with building on flood-prone areas. Moreover, ensuring that everyone has access to housing can reduce the strain on social services and healthcare systems, creating a more stable and prosperous community.

5. Sustainability and Long-term Planning: There is a concern about the sustainability of the fund and suggestions for making it more circular, such as through interest-only loans or other mechanisms that could replenish the fund over time. This reflects a forward-thinking approach to not just spend the reserve but to manage it in a way that continues to benefit the community in the long run.

Conclusion: The overwhelming support for Option 2 reflects a community deeply invested in the welfare of its most vulnerable members. By broadening the purpose of the Housing Reserve Fund, Nelson City Council can take a significant step towards addressing the complex housing challenges facing the city, ensuring that all residents, regardless of their economic status, have access to safe, affordable, and adequate housing. This approach not only addresses immediate needs but also sets a foundation for sustainable and inclusive growth and development in Nelson.

Comments

Option_Selected	Comment
Option 2	Please encourage land use for tiny homes - set good laws allowing that. They are perfect for areas that in 50 years may not be habitable due to climate change etc.
Option 2	Totally agree that more support is needed for vulnerable to provide housing.
Option 2	Build/re use/adapt for vulnerable housing/or extreme weather events/earthquakes.Build in parks, Queens Gardens rather than City.Rebuild of psychiatric care service, cutbacks here cause very vulnerable homeless and without follow up and residential care/support.
Option 2	Its often very hard for people to find homes in Nelson region.  As a result more have to live further out and as a result there is urban sprawl, more congestion, and homes being built on low lieing land that with climate change is likely to get flooded.  There needs to be greater density of housing, with 3 story town houses, with an emphasis on low cost and social housing.  Its also a poor reflection on Nelson that you have NO night shelter.  I have moved from Wellington where I donate to the Wellington Mission and was very suprised that there was no such support in Nelson.So I definitely support Option 2.
Option 2	Council should be partnering to provide housing support. Housing is one of the most significant determinants of health and it benefits all rate-payers to have good housing
Option 2	Absolutely agree re supporting other initiatives like a night shelter.
Option 2	council needs to provide for its low income residents as that is a caring society
Option 2	Housing affordability is a significant issue in Nelson - this option will allow Council be provide more assistance in this area.
Option 2	I encounter homelessness in my work and I can testify that housing is a pressing issue in Nelson that is not going away. It disproportionately affects the less advantaged and will be made worse by the current rolling back of renter's rights.
Option 2	I think a night shelter is needed. but that the cabins at the Brook Campground could also be utilized for this purpose.
Option 2	Private developers need to compete with KO. Social housing needs to have incentives to deliver high quality, efficient housing to those that need it. These public/private partnerships need to align to those requirements and receive adequate funding to make it attractive both for the developer but also the community.
Option 2	I support. But.. it started off at $8 its down to $4.  Couldn't something be done to make it so that its more ongoing, more circular, eg lending interest only or getting something back in a circle somehow, otherwise it will be all used up and gone soon.  And while more housing will have been built, great, the Council will hold no assets to show?
Option 2	Regarding the proposal to broaden the scope of the Housing Reserve Fund, it might be beneficial to explore partnerships with private developers (PPP) to facilitate the creation of affordable housing opportunities for first-time homebuyers and others facing similar housing challenges. By utilising land provided by developers and using the Housing Reserve Fund to contract builders and other contractors, we could establish a system that efficiently offers house and land packages at affordable prices. This approach could significantly aid many residents in securing homeownership.
Option 2	I think both options can work, ideally the non profits maintain the funding they have secured and affordable housing is built by them but some the leftover 3 mil can be used to build a temporary night shelter for our street population to also have connections to services which get our street populations housed and jobs if available
Option 2	The fund is likely to need increased resources to cover a broader purpose, however.
Option 2	whatever you do, please do not build more houses in zones where flooding is likely to occur due to climate change.
Option 2	We agree that housing is a pressing issue for the community. This includes a shortage in housing supply alongside poor quality housing which is difficult and expensive to heat. The provision of an Eco Design Advisor would provide internal expertise which can support ongoing compliance of Council housing with Healthy Home Standards. While also offering advice on retrofit programs to further improve the social housing which is provided by the council, mitigating risks of energy hardship and possibilities of health issues arising for social housing occupants.By providing an Eco Design Advisor also creates an opportunity for Eco Design Advice to be offered to community housing providers. Eco Design Advice provided for new building developments frequently results in improved energy efficiency outcomes without increasing the construction costs. Again, this supports improved energy efficiency and ease of heating enabling warm dry healthy housing for those living in social housing.We support the expansion of the service to develop and provide accommodation for our vulnerable and highest need residents. We believe an Eco Design Advisor role would supplement this by providing critical advice in building performance to ensure unintended consequences are avoided.
Option 2	Absolutely
Option 2	I only support this if the houses can be built on areas that do not have flood-risks from climate change, and using a low carbon construction method.
Option 2	Essential to provide a night shelter and other buildings/housing for vulnerable people.
Option 2	HOUSING RESERVE FUND CHANGESBroaden the purpose of the
Option 2	We agree with the proposal to broaden the provision of vulnerable housing support. We have seen a small, but growing, number of people living in the city centre, which is having an impact on surrounding businesses. It is important that we provide appropriate alternatives for people so that sleeping on the street is not their only option.
Option 2	How will the “vulnerable and highest need residents” be determined? Council need to work in partnership with community and community organisations to find innovative solutions to the housing issue. A ‘night shelter’ for example is a facility that sustains homelessness and are generally unsafe for many of the residents. We need creative and innovative solutions to finding homes for people rather than trying to sustain homelessness or some level of transience. (e.g. Wikitoria)
Option 2	5Housing: support widening to include emergency housing and homes for vulnerable people. Housing is yet another of the material deficits we have.
Option 2	As in other places in NZ there is an affordability housing crisis in Nelson. If in 10 years as your longterm plan indicates those over 65 will increase to 1 in 4 there will be more people who have a limited income which will impact on their ability to house themselves in this community. I support including diversity in our community. If those on low incomes especially families can not find stable housing, the social effects will be felt by all of us in time with a negative impact on our security as well as increases in need for health and welfare services. The Council should continue to work with partners to provide social and affordable housing solutions for those that need it. I feel the Council should amend criteria for new applications to require alignment with the Urban Greening Plan 2022.
Option 2	I support the Council’s proposal to broaden criteria for use of this fund, to enable NCC to support and work with partners to develop and provide accommodation for our vulnerable and highest need residents.
Option 2	I support the Council’s proposal to broaden criteria for use of this fund, to enable NCC to support and work with partners to develop and provide accommodation for our vulnerable and highest need residents.New applications to the fund should also be required to align with the NCC’s Urban Greening Plan 2022, which aims to “expand our urban canopy, bringing more CO2 absorbing plants and trees into our City Centre while reducing air and noise pollution, supporting biodiversity and food resiliency”.
Option 2	sounds great
Option 2	Developing a night shelter will get the homeless out of their tents in Parks and off the streets.
Option 2	We are a wealthy community and there is no excuse for any homelessness in Nelson. Let's make sure all vulnerable people are safely housed in adequate housing.  And please prioritise safe housing for victims of domestic assault and violence. Please increase the stock of affordable housing. There is very little affordable housing in Nelson.  Also please increase the stock of smaller houses. There is an increasing demographic of single people who do not need (and can't afford) 3 or 4 bedroom homes. So more affordable 1 or 2 bedroom homes please. Please ENSURE that developers are required to make a certain percentage of homes affordable and make it easy for them to do so. I.e. don't charge the moon in resource and building consent fees.
Option 2	Let's empower greater capability.
Option 2	Broaden the purpose of the Housing Reserve Fund and work with partners to deliver social and affordable housing.
Option 2	The vulnerable members of our community need more support to be able to live in a safe, dry and warm environment.  Council needs to support those organisations that already exist to be able to provide the on the ground support that is needed, to keep people safe and well.  Working across the community and Council is key, funded by Council.  There is too much reliance on volunteers.
Option 2	more people need help to access quality affordable housing.
Option 2	We support Council in Option 2, as we believe that there is an urgent need for suitable accommodation options for our vulnerable and highest need residents.
Option 2	We agree with the proposal to broaden the scope of the Housing Reserve Fund as described in Option 2.
Option 2	Housing Reserve Fund Changes:I support Option 2Thank you for NCC's contribution to the Vulnerable Housing Network (VHN) , both funding for the Coordinator and the work of the Community Partner Advisor.This is an essential network to keep For Purpose professionals and statutory agencies connected.  It ensures everyone is kept up to date with the constant changes for those who are in vulnerable housing and homeless situations, updates on changes within specific organisations and building relationships across the agencies. Please continue to support this network.  There is urgent need for more affordable rental accommodation. NCC needs to keep lobbying Kainga Ora to ensure they deliver on their original promise of 100 + social houses in this region as soon as possible.  I also support the continuation of community housing agencies accessing the Housing Reserve fund.   NCC needs to follow up on the recommendations that come out of the Vulnerable Housing research you have commissioned Meihana Consulting to do.  Request for NCC to investigate the number of houses sitting empty and consider ways to make them available for rent eg charge higher rates, connect them with social agencies to assist with finding appropriate tenants. Te Tau Ihu Community Development Agency is going to be a valuable organisation for all social service agencies to work in a more collaborative, effective way.   Right now individual agencies are under great stress due to lack of financial resources.  This leads to a lack of secure, consistent support to the most vulnerable and lack of time to collaborate for better outcomes.  NCC's support will be vital for further development of this agency.  The VHN will be able to sit under this agency as one of the specific action groups working across the sector. NCC's Community Investment Fund is one of the essential funds for community organisations to apply to.  A number of years ago $100.000 was switched over to the Healthy Homes programme from CIF leaving only $300.000.   It is time for NCC to switch it back into CIF to boost the effectiveness of CIF please!Thankyou for this opportunity to participate in the LTP.
Option 2	Support Option 2 - Broaden the purpose of the Housing Reserve Fund and work with partners to deliver social and affordable housing.