Bay of Plenty Regional Council chairman Doug Leeder said Liveable Homes was directly targeted at people whose properties were impacted by the April floods, both in Edgecumbe and other parts of the Whakatane District.
"The council agreed that this project would be best-placed to allocate funding where the needs are greatest," he said.
BayTrust also committed funds to the Liveable Homes project at its board meeting on June 22. It provided a total spend of up to $250,000 for the Liveable Homes Project together with a further $50,000 for other support related to the EBOP flood relief package.
BayTrust chief executive Alastair Rhodes said healthy, sustainable housing was one of the key funding priorities to help achieve the trust's vision of making the Bay of Plenty the greatest place to be.
"Edgecumbe and Eastern Bay communities have been badly affected by the April floods and BayTrust is glad to be able to help at this time. Having a warm and healthy home to return to will make a massive difference to families that have already suffered real financial and emotional hardship."
Whakatane district mayor Tony Bonne and Liveable Homes team leader John Pullar welcomed the council and BayTrust decision and said the funding provided would go a long way towards ensuring the project's success.
"From the start, Liveable Homes' aim was to ensure that no-one was left behind because they didn't have the means to repair their homes to a habitable standard," they say.
"The Eastern Bay Energy Trust's $200,000 contribution meant that we were able to address the insulation needs of flood-affected residential properties and with this fantastic support from BayTrust and the regional council, we can look forward to delivering some significant benefits for people whose homes were impacted by the April floods."
Any flood-affected Whakatane District residents who want to know if they are eligible for assistance with building repairs or free insulation through the Liveable Homes programme are asked to contact the Bay of Plenty Regional Council, ring the Liveable Homes coordinator on 027 565 3898, or call in to Te Tari Awhina at the Edgecumbe Library.