An Abbeyfield house is a step closer to being built in Greymouth, thanks to a $500,000 commitment from Development West Coast.

Abbeyfield Greymouth is working with Abbeyfield Properties to develop an Abbeyfield house catering for 12 over-65s. The house will provide much-needed affordable rental housing for the older age group.

Abbeyfield Greymouth has been working on establishing a house for 15 years. The Grey District Council has already donated a site, but the project has stalled until now due to a lack of development capital.

Development West Coast, the regional economic development agency for the West Coast region, has now revived the project with its $500,000 commitment. Abbeyfield New Zealand Executive Officer, Susan Jenkins, applauded the agency for its foresight.

“Development West Coast has recognised the importance of this project for the West Coast. There is a dire shortage of suitable accommodation for older people in the region; council-owned retirement units are full, with long waiting lists, and rest home options are limited. Many older Coasters are living in caravans or sleepouts or trying to stay on in the family home when it is no longer safe for them to do so,” she said.

“We still need to raise significant funding to build this house and we hope the West Coast community will get behind it and support our local committee. When established, it will mean more Coasters can live out their lives in their local community, rather than being forced to leave the region to find suitable housing.’’

DWC Chief Executive, Heath Milne, said the agency was pleased to be working with Abbeyfield and the Grey District Council to help increase the availability of affordable, stable and welcoming housing for older Coasters.

Read more in this article published in Scoop.

Find out more about Abbeyfield Greymouth here.