Abbeyfield Shared Housing Concept Kicks Off In Invercargill
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Invercargill’s town crier Lynley McKerrow is bringing the Abbeyfield shared housing concept to the city.
A public meeting on Friday night will reveal more details and the steering committee of just four is looking for more support to move the initiative ahead.
There are currently 16 Abbeyfield houses in New Zealand providing secure rental accommodation to superannuitants.
Alexandra is the latest one to move ahead, recently gaining approval from the Central Otago District Council to transfer additional land, allowing planning for a sustainable $4.2 million 14-unit Abbeyfield house in the town.
There are also others already established in Frankton (Abbeyfield Wakatipu), Dunedin, Greymouth, Motueka, Nelson and two in Christchurch all within the South Island.
Rent is affordable for those living on superannuation and includes meals, power, rates, and overheads — with no capital entry fee or licence to occupy.
A housekeeper prepares two meals a day for the residents, who each have their own private studio and ensuite, with external access.
Lynley said the public meeting will inform Invercargill and Southland about Abbeyfield and what the organisation is about.
“There is huge interest in this as there’s nothing south of Dunedin, but the one in Queenstown is just exceptional.”
Most Abbeyfield shared housing projects take about five years from inception to completion.
“We’re not just building a new community in Invercargill, but a community around Abbeyfield itself. So we have this whole national Abbeyfield community.”
The public meeting will also be a way to connect with service organisations in the city, and then once the steering group is affiliated with Abbeyfield New Zealand, they can move ahead with fundraising.
Lynley said the Invercargill City Council does have land available and there are other opportunities around the city, through community churches closing down.
“But the preference is to have bare land.”
Les Evans is also on the steering committee - a builder who was involved with Habitat for Humanity, along with his wife Kay.
The public meeting will be held at The Pod in South City at 5pm on Friday (August 7).