Housing Trust’s receives National Awards

The Whangarei Accessible Housing Trust is thrilled at receiving recognition for its work at the annual National Local Authority Community Development Conference held in Hamilton this week. The Trust not only won the category in which it had entered, Social Equity, but was also acknowledged as the supreme winner at an awards dinner last night.

News Release

Whangarei Accessible Housing Trust
Kuaha ki te Ao Hou

Housing Trust’s Work Recognised at National Awards
21 September 2007

The Whangarei Accessible Housing Trust is thrilled at receiving recognition for its work at the annual National Local Authority Community Development Conference held in Hamilton this week. The Trust not only won the category in which it had entered, Social Equity, but was also acknowledged as the supreme winner at an awards dinner last night.

The National Local Authority Community Development Awards are held as a key component of the conference, and are an opportunity to celebrate successful projects and highlight examples of good practice. The Social Equity category recognises programmes, projects and services that demonstrate
- steps taken to reduce inequity or oppression,
- promotes social change which benefits people who are experiencing disadvantage,
- provides access to resources and support services for high need groups,
- challenges the privilege of dominant groups, and
- changes practices which discriminate against non-dominant groups.
The other categories in the awards are Strengthening Communities, Partnerships and Collaboration, Innovation and Initiatives, Community Engagement, and the UNICEF Child and Youth Friendly Community award. All category winners are then considered for the Supreme Award

Susanne Scanlen, Chair of the Whangarei Housing Trust, is thrilled at the announcement. “The Trustees, staff and advisers, have worked extremely hard to pursue a vision that was generated inside CCS Disability Action, which is now a key partner in our work. Our aim is to ensure the provision of affordable, accessible housing for people with disability and their families/whanau, so they can live ordinary lives in the community of their choice – just as the rest of us do.”

The Social Equity Award and the accolade of the Supreme Award are for us an acknowledgement of our vision and our work, and will motivate us to continue to explore new and innovative ways to provide houses for more people in the disability community as needs are identified.”

The Whangarei Accessible Housing Trust has already purchased four properties in Whangarei. These purchases are the first of eight planned for this year with funding provided by Housing New Zealand and CCS Disability Action. They mark a milestone in the provision of accessible housing for disabled people in the Whangarei Community. Alterations are currently being undertaken to ensure all properties are fully accessible before the first tenants move in during October.

For further information or to contact the Trust, please contact Auriole Ruka or Susanne Scanlen:
Phone: Auriole Ruka –027 2930774 or 09-437 1889
Susanne Scanlen – 09-436 0677
Email: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Email: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Whangarei Accessible Housing Trust, PO Box 8035, Kensington, Whangarei 0145