We're feeling a bit stuck on this housing crisis, but solutions are emerging everywhere, and it's inspiring.
Housing Innovation Society
www.thehousinginnovationsociety.com
Is a homegrown advocacy, education & networking body dedicated to supporting innovation in housing development. They exist to support innovation in housing development by addressing issues of equity, affordability and sustainability, to deliver thriving communities and social, environmental and financial wellbeing.
How we live
The How We Live report articulates how the combined efforts of our team of five million can create good solutions to the housing crisis, if we all work together. It looks at the alternative ways the housing problem has been successfully tackled overseas.
Papakainga Housing
www.tpk.govt.nz/en/a-matou-mohiotanga/housing/a-guide-to-papakainga-housing
This resouce has been developed by Te Puni Kokiri is a guide to whānau papakāinga housing available to you, your whānau and community. This guide sets out the process for developing papakāinga housing in three stages with checklists, tips and advice to progress your papakāinga housing development.
Co-Housing
https://cohousing.org.nz/communities
Cohousing is a form of housing in which a group of people come together to plan, design and operate their own multi-unit housing development. There are many models of co-housing but all are defined by some form of co-design and the ongoing democratic participation in community life by residents or housing owners long after the build is complete. Developments are also often purpose-built with eco-friendly or economical design imperatives.
Check out the local co-housing developments in Aotearoa, and some international developments: Nightingale Housing or Baugruppen (architect and professionally-led), or Baugermeinshaft (resident-led). (Courtesy of the Housing Innovation Society)
Cooperative Housing
Cooperative Housing Facebook Group NZ
A cooperative can be defined as an organisation owned and run by its membership, with the sole aim of providing benefit to its members. Housing cooperatives emerged as a grassroots, self-help response to the housing crisis of the time. Housing cooperatives are usually run by tenants or residents who purchase shares in a corporation. Each share corresponds to a dwelling unit or proportion of the overall roughly equivalent to a single dwelling.
Cooperative housing has a reputation for achieving long-term affordable rents (on average, below-market rent) and stable neighbourhoods. Check out the Peterborough cooperative in Ōtautahi, Christchurch.
Community Land Trusts
Community land trusts (CLTs) are non-profit, community-based organisations designed to ensure perpetual, genuinely affordable housing. The land is collectively owned in CLTs and residents can either own their home outright or rent from the CLT. The CLT owns and stewards land in perpetuity on behalf of a community, removing the price of land from the cost of housing and removing land from the speculative market. CLTs are governed by a democratic board made up of representatives from three groups: leaseholders, members of the community (non-leaseholders) and other stakeholders such as community housing providers. This model offers the security of tenure for low- and medium-income residents, as well as providing a means for them to build equity, live where they work, have a sense of community, and be able to put down roots.
The Tiny House Revolution
Tiny House NZ Facebook Community
The tiny-house movement represents a return to simpler living, offering potential eco-friendly solutions to the existing housing industry, as well as a feasible transitional option for vulnerably housed people. There are a variety of reasons for living in a tiny house. Many people who enter this lifestyle are rethinking what they value in life and decide to put more effort into strengthening their communities, healing the environment, spending time with their families, or saving money. In Aotearoa New Zealand, there are still many battles being fought by individuals coming up against council regulations. But the community is strong and collaborative. They are generously sharing knowledge and tips, materials, plans and processes. It is a inspiring to such a huge (20k members) and collaborative community response to the challenges of housing.
