Some of CMM's Wesley Village residents recently shared their stories of housing struggles in this Stuff article.

Nick

When Nick Carswell found out his rural Canterbury rental was going to be deemed unfit for tenancy in 2023, it was “a moment of sheer horror”.

“I thought I had nowhere to go,” he said.

Carswell and his family searched for a nearby motel room but the motel costs soon mounted.

“Having to live in a motel at 80 years of age... made me realise how life for me was not shaping up particularly well.”

After exploring possible retirement homes and realising he was priced out, his family and Age Concern helped Carswell join the public housing register and he was connected with CMM’s Wesley Village.

He was offered a unit for $115 a week and said he was overcome with relief. “It was just amazing.” He moved in two days later. “It’s extremely well run,” he said. “And so reasonably priced... we can survive on our pensions and live adequately.”

“We could build Wesley Village over again tomorrow and fill it up immediately,” says CMM Executive Director Jill Hawkey. “The demand is huge.”

“The primary income for the majority of older renters is their NZ Superannuation. But finding a home that is affordable on superannuation is almost impossible. Without intervention, it will become a full-blown crisis.”

Evelyn

Evelyn Riddell, 82, was always a hard worker. She dedicated her days to social development work. For most of her life, she said, she was paid little more than minimum wage.

Riddell’s living situation changed after a marriage breakdown. She owned a home for a short while on her own, but with most of her kids overseas, the upkeep became too much for her and she moved to renting. That worked well for her for a number of years, but in 2020 she had to leave suddenly and was left with nowhere affordable to go.

“I felt sick,” she recalled. “I thought I was secure but I was left with nothing.”

Riddell was directed to Wesley Village, and now rents a small one-bedroom flat for $240 a week, plus bills. She keeps herself busy, making relishes and chutneys that she sold at nearby farmers markets. That gives her a little bit of extra money, but living off the pension was still tight: She tried to keep her power bill down by not using her heat pump.

Having her flat gave her peace of mind, and a sense of security.