Prime Minister in attendance as Salvation Army opens new social housing in Levin
The Salvation Army has fully opened its newest social housing (SASH) complex in Levin, providing people and their whānau with warm and safe places to live amid increasing cost of living pressures and a deepening housing crisis across the motu.
The Hinemoa Housing Community comprises 52 new units for individuals and families. This development was built and is owned by local developer and Salvation Army church members Wayne and Bridget Bishop. The development, built on time and under budget, is leased by The Salvation Army for 15 years. All tenants have come from the Ministry for Social Development’s Housing Register. Tenants were referred to The Salvation Army from social service providers and local iwi.
The December 12 opening was attended by guests, including Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and MP for Ōtaki Tim Costley. The event began with a pōwhiri from Muaūpoko Iwi, followed by speeches, waiata, communal kai and tours of some of the new units.
“It’s not just housing we’re building here—we’re building community,” the Prime Minister said at the opening. “I know the hard work The Salvation Army does. We want people to flourish.”
Salvation Army Territorial Director of Social Housing and Property Greg Foster said working collaboratively with Government and private business can help create better housing outcomes across Aotearoa.
“The common thing that’s linked us together is wanting to give people a home. For the whānau that are here, what a great foundation for going forward.”
Salvation Army National Tenancy Operations Manager Jasmine Herewini said the foundation provided by the new development means residents and their whānau can thrive.
“This place is for our babies—because we want them to be our next prime ministers, doctors and lawyers.”
The opening comes amid a high need for housing across the motu, including in the regions. There were 21,957 applicants on the Housing Register nationwide in September. Of those, 10,443 were Māori—the highest of any group. In the Horowhenua District, where Levin is located, the 186 people on the Housing Register in September is a nearly 60% increase than the number of people on the Housing Register in the district pre-pandemic (108 in September 2019).
The Salvation Army Territorial Media Officer, 021 945 337, email: media@salvationarmy.org.nz (The Media Officer responds to enquiries from media outlets and journalists. If you would like to donate, are in need of help, or have some other non-media-related enquiry, please call 0800 53 00 00.)