Multi-generational social housing opens for Pacific families

A new social housing development is making it possible for Pacific families to live under one roof.

The Penina Trust has opened five houses in Auckland's Papakura, designed for multi-generational living, with edible gardens, areas for children to play and a fale.

Speaking to Ma'a Brian Sagala from Pacific Days, Trust chief executive Tupuola Roine Lealaiauloto says the Red Hill Road site is the first of its kind.

“We're not just about building homes, we want people to actually live, a place where children can play, a place where people can grow a few veggies, and just basically live.”

Samoan mother of seven Kilika ‘Ave came to look at the houses two days ago, and was stunned to be asked to move in.

“They said ‘We’re giving you this house’ and I was like ‘Ae?’, and I was shocked.

“It’s still slowly hitting me, I wasn’t expecting that, to be chosen to actually be the first family in the first home.

‘Ave says she’s grateful and and thankful to God and Penina Trust staff for finding them a home.

A long time in the making

The Red Hill site in Papakura has been a dream of Penina Trust for 21 years. Photo/Penina Trust Facebook

The site is made up of two six-bedroom homes and three four-bedrooms, the design includes a bathtub to accommodate children and older residents, along with large kitchens and enough space for children to play on the deck.

Two of the homes are made for people with disabilities, including ramps and wide hallways.

Tupuola says the project is the product of a vision sparked 21 years ago, and the buildings were designed with Pacific lifestyles in mind.

“For a lot of our families, it's the indoor-outdoor flow, ability for our families to come together in this environment, to be able to have families over, to be able to meet things like fa’alavelaves.

“Birthdays or funerals, we need that space where families can gather, but on an everyday basis also, some space where people can live, where children play.

“Growing up in state housing myself, sometimes when you have friends that had really nice houses and you came back to a really run down old home … so we hope that children will be proud to come home to these homes.”

The Trust’s general manager of housing Catherine Ioane says when families are applying for social housing, it helps the process when families are realistic about how many people will be staying.

“A lot of our families are fearful of putting how many people are in the homes, when we know there's seven that's going to be living there but they put in five, and that is the issue that we're having, not being able to have suitable homes for them.”

Families can enquire about the site through the Penina Trust website, and referrals made through Work and Income.

Families pitch in to create the garden spaces at the Red Hill site. Photo/Penina Trust Facebook page