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Community Housing
Independent Living Units (ILU's)
The history of The Salvation Army’s Independent Living Units (ILU’s) in New Zealand goes back to the 1950’s. The first ILU’s to be established where five single units at Glenside Lodge in Oamaru. In August 1962 the first purpose-built units were opened, four flats—two single and two double—called the Somerset Units, in Owen Street, Wellington.
A government policy to make capital loans and subsidies available to religious and welfare organisations for the housing of elderly residents enabled The Salvation Army to construct a number of ILU’s throughout New Zealand.
ILU’s provide an essential service for the low income elderly.
ILU's across the country
At the present time The Salvation Army has 234 units throughout New Zealand, comprising a network of ILU's in 13 complexes, situated in Auckland, Hamilton, Gisborne, New Plymouth, Carterton, Kapiti Coast, Wellington, Blenheim, Christchurch, Ashburton, Oamaru and Dunedin.
Oversight of the ILU’s is handled by the Supervisor of Independent Living Units—based at Territorial Headquarters (THQ) in Wellington—and Referral Officers spread throughout the country. Referral officers are—in the main—Salvation Army corps officers (ministers) in the local areas.
The role of the referral officer is to report maintenance requests, undertake interviews (as required), notify the supervisor of deaths, vacating of units and also assisting with information for new tenants (from the waiting lists). It is important to note, that it is not the length of time a person has been on a waiting list that determines their eligibility for an ILU, rather this determination is made on the basis of the person with the greatest need—at the time the ILU becomes available.
The referral officer is also in a position to minister to tenants, thus expressing the totality of service offered by The Salvation Army—the willingness to meet physical, social and spiritual needs.
Any person can refer an older person who is in need.
Conditions of tenancy
Processing of tenant applications is carried out at THQ, with reference to the recommendations of the referral officer.
Salvation Army ILU’s are for independent living. Tenants must be able to live independently, however, many buy in services (cleaning, showering, shopping, meals on wheels etc) as the need arises.
The Salvation Army does not provide institutional care, but for some our ILU’s provide an intermediary stage before going into full-time care. This is especially relevant to those who have lived alone, or lose a partner, and find the upkeep of a property or the loneliness is too much to cope with.
Occasionally we have tenants who go into residential care, but with the stabilisation of their physical and emotional condition have moved back into their unit and are coping well with only a small amount of support.
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