| 15 DEVELOPMENT CORT Housing Sue Russell Helping to create communities A CORT development in Papakura. CORT Housing is an Auckland-based community housing organisation with its root beginning out of a local church initiative, to do ‘something’ to assist with finding a solution to give those often less advantaged an opportunity to live in a warm, health, affordable, well-built home. CEO Stephen Hart connects to that history, and says today, while CORT operates separately from the church, the original values are remain strong throughout the organisation “We’re about providing good homes, good lives with an emphasis on connection and community enabled through good partnerships as a charity and a housing organisation, working with Government and private housing developers. ” Partnerships are very broad and Stephen says this is one of the strength of the business model. “It means we can, with some confidence, know that there will be a consistent funding stream to support our housing developments and support to ensure our tenants are living well.” Among his core responsibilities is looking after the team of 15 dedicated staff, who come from a wide range of backgrounds; all with a passion for providing high quality housing for tenants.If we don’t support our staff well then everything else falls away. “They are key and central to what we’ve achieved to date.” Stephen says there’s an innate understanding that so much for an individual or family who may be struggling begins with providing them with good housing and a sense of connection to a community. “Over many years CORTs has utilised a variety of government housing policies and funding streams. “Around 2011 CORT Housing began its development journey, driven by a simple question: ‘How do we be an enabler? And the best way was to become a developer of homes ourselves.” Its satisfying to have the opportunity to build what the wider housing property sector often fails to provide, such as building attractive one-bedroom apartments in well thoughtout medium density developments. “CORT has taken a forward position in that market in Auckland for sure.” When Business North spoke with Stephen CORT had recently handed over keys to 15 new whanau in Massey, with a further 89 homes to come on stream. Traditionally, funding to the Trust comes from leveraging their own balance sheet to procure capital via debt. CORT has also more recently partnered with ACC to create a joint-venture to develop and manage over 100 new homes over a 25 year period. As a developer CORT’s approach is to work on relatively small sites. “We tend to work in the brown field space more. Our aim is to blend in sympathetically with an existing community with between 12 – 20 units on any given site.” Tenants come through the Public Housing Register. CORT has its own waiting-list of prospective tenants and Stephen says this gives an opportunity for organisation and tenant to get to know each other better. “We’re creating communities. People who have not been together and we do the extra work to really understand people and to ensure they transition well into our homes.” Stephen also thinks its important that tenants feel able to lead that engagement with CORT. Housing is very much viewed as a first step among many that our tenants will take and strong relationships over time build up between tenancy managers and the whanau they work with. Choosing locations that are close to a whole range of amenities drives locations chosen to develop in. “Close to schools, shopping, transport, medical and recreation spaces are all crucial factors.” Supporting Stephen in his role is a Board of Trustees, responsible for the strategic direction. Stephen says the organisation has been incredible well served by the with the calibre of Trustees on the board. Similarly, when looking to employ new staff he says the process is very much hinged around values. “We don’t have a lot of staff turnover. Our work can be busy and at times challenging but we love what we do” “We’re about providing good homes, good lives with an emphasis on connection and community enabled through good partnerships as a charity and a housing organisation, working with Government and private housing developers.” www.milesconstruction.co.nz "Proud to be working with CORT Community Housing” INTEGRATED PLANNING, SURVEYING, ENGINEERING, AND ENVIRONMENTAL SOLUTIONS THAT WORK. 09 524 7029 auckland@ckl.co.nz www.ckl.co.nz
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