Vision statement
1. To contribute to the community's social well-being by ensuring safe, accessible and affordable housing is available to people on low incomes including elderly persons, and people with disabilities.
Council
December 1996
2. That Christchurch is a city in which the elderly can express their full potential and make a valuable contribution to the life of their communities.
Council
23 April 1990
Policy and research
1. That the Council, in fulfilling its role as a housing provider, seek to identify and explore additional policies and projects to assist in the achievement of its housing objective.
2. That the Council identify potential sites for development by the Council for joint ventures with social service providers.
3. That the Council enter into discussions with the Southern Regional Health Authority, or its successor, and others with a view to a joint venture development of semi-dependent elderly accommodation.
4. That the Council carry out a feasibility study for joint venture development of Council owned land (e.g. at Hornby) for integrated affordable housing use.
5. That the Council bring forward a development plan for other Council owned land suitable for affordable housing and prioritise. Consider rent to buy/tenant contribution options.
6. That through the City Plan review process seek the rezoning of Council owned land for affordable housing.
7. That service providers be advised of resource consent requirements of the Council.
8. That the Council ensure that appropriate planning procedures are in place to assist in the provision of residential housing for those with psychiatric or other disabilities.
9. That the Council urge the Southern Regional Health Authority, or its successors, to provide adequately for the support needs of all its community based customers, by seeking additional Government funding to enable it to purchase the necessary services.
10. That the Council's social objectives with regard to affordable housing are clearly articulated to Government and other social service agencies.
Note: In December 1996 the Minister of Housing was requested to give urgent attention to the following matters:
(i) The Government acknowledge homelessness is a reality in New Zealand, including Christchurch, and provide a statutory definition of homelessness.
(ii) That the Government acknowledge that the policy of requiring Housing New Zealand to achieve a commercial return on its investments while also having social objectives is neither working nor achievable.
(iii) That the Government acknowledge that its market rental policies have resulted in a significant increase in private sector rentals and that it therefore consider a return to a differential rental system related to income, or that the accommodation supplement be increased to 100 per cent of the eligible amount and that it be targeted to meet tenants' needs.
(iv) That low interest loans for low income first home purchasers be made available through the Housing Corporation and that the deposit be income related.
(v) That the Government ensure that:
- Housing New Zealand houses comply with acceptable standards.
- Monitoring of housing standards is enacted.
- Legislation covering issues such as security of tenure is tightened.
- That the Government through its own agencies and in association with the Real Estate Institute promote good practice in the rental market.
(vi) That the Government consider joint venture developments/housing projects with the Council, such as low interest loans, on a similar basis to those provided to councils in the past.
11. That the Housing Manager report six monthly to community boards on development and policies pertaining to the boards' areas.
12. That a new name for Elderly Persons Housing and Public Rental Housing be considered so as to better reflect current practices and to remove the perceived stigma created by the former titles. (Confirmed as "City Housing" see Council 25 February 1998)
13. That research be undertaken to identify the long term needs for housing and care of the elderly. On the basis of this information to investigate the feasibility of providing a wider range of accommodation options to cater for the variety of housing needs of the elderly. One option to be investigated should be the provision of retirement villages for those elderly of limited financial means.
14. That needs of the elderly in City Housing be surveyed and that services are put in place that will extend their ability to remain independently housed. Target date June 1998.
Asset management
1. That the Council retain all rental housing.
2. That rental housing be managed by the Council's Housing Unit centrally with service centre staff receiving training on administration.
3. That the Council's housing activity continues to be financially self supporting (allowing for depreciation, loan servicing, administration and maintenance).
4. That the Council in fulfilling its role as a housing provider seek to provide a safe and pleasant environment and a maintenance and support service responsive to the reasonable requirement of tenants including:
- The provision of landscaping and grounds maintenance to common areas.
- The provision of garden areas immediately outside the back and front of flats which will be the responsibility of the tenants.
- The provision of suitable garden sheds adjacent to flats which shall be included in the maintenance contract.
- The provision of suitable garden sheds in complexes where no other storage facility exists for garden tools.
- The provision of security lighting.
5. That the Council, in fulfilling its role as a housing provider, seek to maintain a quality and energy efficient unit design, construction and appearance suited to the needs of tenants, and adopt appropriate standards of upkeep.
6. That tenants in general provide carpets and drapes in the Council's rental housing units.
Welfare services
1. Deleted Council meeting 11 December 2003.
2. That the Council liaise closely with all agencies responsible for providing accommodation for the elderly and other people in need.
3. That the Council network with Income Support Services so as to ensure appropriate access by both City Housing tenants and all other eligible Christchurch City residents to the Government-funded accommodation supplement.
4. That the Council in fulfilling its role as a housing provider, seek to provide a referral service to social service and welfare agencies for tenants who require additional or ongoing assistance.
5. That the Council facilitate the provision of additional "home" care for the semi dependent elderly in Council housing so as to extend their independent living.
6. That the Council acknowledge that it has a part to play in the provision of housing for lower socio-economic groups.
7. That the Council, in fulfilling its role as a housing provider, seek to assist people to be accommodated, where possible, in their own communities, by locating units equitably across the city, in accordance with demand.
8. That the Council, in fulfilling its role as a housing provider, seek to locate units in close proximity to essential services relevant to the tenants' needs.
9. That the Council provide or be a facilitator of accommodation for those deinstitutionalisated or otherwise affected by changes in the health system.
10. That the Council provide additional accommodation for single men and women with one child.
11. The provision of inner city accommodation for mature single men and mature single women displaced from boarding house accommodation. The goal is not to exclude the provision of such accommodation in other areas of the city.
12. That the Council consults with representatives of Christchurch's ethnic communities to ensure the needs of the elderly from all ethnic groups might be catered for through Council housing policy.
13. That the Council in fulfilling its role as a housing provider seek to provide opportunities for social interaction within its housing complexes, e.g. residents' lounges where appropriate.
14. That the Council ensures its operational procedures are consistent with the Human Rights Act 1993.
15. That Housing staff be given opportunities to increase their knowledge of health and care issues for people with disabilities.
16. That the Council have a policy of providing a small collection of books to those EPH complexes which have residents' lounges.
17. That the rules below be the guidelines for the keeping of dogs in Council housing complexes:
1. Dogs will only be permitted in ground floor units that allow a fenced area to be constructed in a professional manner, adjacent to the unit, without access being obstructed.
2. Only one dog be allowed per tenant/unit.
3. A dog may be allowed only if there is a substantial agreement of all tenants, including agreement on breed.
4. A dog must have access to a fenced area including shelter, constructed in a professional manner to the Housing Manager's approval, at no cost to the Christchurch City Council.
5. Dogs must be currently registered and display a registration tag at all times.
6. The dog owner will:
- Keep the dog under control at all times i.e. it must be on a lead when outside the fenced run area
- Not allow the dog to bark/whine so as to cause a nuisance
- Immediately repair any damage to Council or other tenants' property caused by the dog at their expense
- Immediately pick up and dispose of any dog faeces deposited by the dog around the complex
- Feed and properly care for the dog
- Not allow the dog to jump up on or rush at or otherwise frighten other tenants
- Not allow the dog to roam and cause a nuisance
- Make adequate "holiday" arrangements at owner's expense.
7. Pay a bond to the Council equivalent to one week's rent or $100 whichever is the greater.
8. Arrange for the flat to be commercially cleaned at their expense on vacating the flat. A certificate for the work must be produced when handing in the keys and before getting the bond back.
9. Female dogs must be spayed and male dogs must be neutered. A vet's certificate must be produced at the time of any approval.
10. The permitting of dogs in Council housing complexes is on a trial basis - it will be reviewed annually with a report to the Community Services Committee.
11. The Council reserves the right at any time to withdraw permission to keep a dog.
Housing tenancy services
1. That the Council, in fulfilling its role as a housing provider, seek to offer security of tenure to tenants, as appropriate.
2. That, from July 1991, equivalent properties attract the same level of rent for the same level of occupancy.
3. That differential rents between single and double occupancy remain.
4. That the annual rent review date for all tenancies be the first rental period in July.
5. That bonds be required from all new City Housing tenants.
(See Policy document Volume II Appendix 5.3).
Tenant support - policy goal
To ensure that tenant support is facilitated, in order to assist City Housing tenants to live independently, and achieve a good quality of life.
Capital
1. That any surplus in the Housing Account be used for further public rental housing or to acquire additional land to achieve the Council's housing goals.
2. That a minimum of one residents' lounge be provided annually within Elderly Persons' Housing complexes as they are remodelled.
3. That partnership arrangements with appropriate agencies be supported whereby they will be the head lessee of part or whole of the Council housing complex providing supervised accommodation for persons with psychiatric or other disabilities.
Council
25 February 1998
Policy statements
1. Tenancy Liaison Officers will facilitate support by monitoring the needs of their tenants and referring on to other agencies as appropriate. This will be achieved through:
- interviewing all prospective tenants;
- visiting tenants at least once per year, and more frequently as necessary;
- maintaining networks with, and an up to date knowledge of, the wider support system in the city.
2. City Housing will put mechanisms in place which maximise the ability of Tenancy Liaison Officers to facilitate the support of their tenants. It will ensure that adequate training and resources are made available to enable the Tenancy Liaison Officers to perform this role.
3. City Housing will ensure that there are formal mechanisms in place that enable tenants to communicate their views/concerns (for example, satisfaction surveys, tenant meetings).
4. Activities Co-ordinators will contribute to the social well-being of City Housing tenants by providing/encouraging social and recreational opportunities.
5. City Housing will work with other Council Units with a view to encouraging community development initiatives within the complexes.
6. The Council will work with other agencies to identify and document gaps in support provision, and lobby relevant government agencies and departments for increased resources to meet these needs.
7. The Council will work with other agencies to attempt to address issues raised by gaps in the support system, and will investigate the potential for further joint initiatives.
Policy principles
1. The ultimate aim of support facilitation is to enable tenants to live independently, maintain their tenancy, and achieve a good quality of life.
2. City Housing staff should work to empower tenants (by enabling tenants to help themselves).
3. City Housing staff should assist tenants to solve their own problems, by referring them to the appropriate agencies.
4. Referrals should be made only at a tenant's request and/or with the tenant's consent unless her/his physical or mental health dictates otherwise.
5. The principles of the Privacy Act should be applied in all referrals.
Council
25 November 1999
