Limitless Hope: Swannells have new shelter plan

Kevin and Kiri Swannell have announced they will no longer be using the Property Brokers building to house Hawke's Bay's first Emergency Shelter due to financial and practical obstacles. Photo / Paul Taylor

As one door closes another one opens - it's a motto Kiri and Kevin Swannell are sticking by.

The couple recently realised using a two-storey building donated by Property Brokers as Hawke's Bay's first Homeless Shelter was presenting more road blocks than opportunities.

While the house itself was structurally sound, they struggled to get an exact quote as to how much it would cost to break apart, move and then re-assemble the building, nor anyone to oversee the process.

"No property manager would touch it, we even looked at paying someone - the job was just too big," Mrs Swannell said.

Under the Limitless Hope Emergency Shelter Appeal they raised funds to help get their dream off the ground but as of this week the Property Brokers house will not be a part of that dream.

While incredibly grateful for the generous offer, they felt getting the project up and running in other ways would be a better use of donated money.

"I had a talk to the Limitless Hope trustees it was between $200,000 to half a million to put it back together, just to put it back together, it would have to be commercial piles which are different," Mr Swannell said.

"Working with the house was going to be big and not very cost effective for the purpose, it was actually going to limit us," Mrs Swannell added.

Having six bedrooms and all in one building would prove an obstacle when they had multiple families staying.

They thanked Property Brokers Hawke's Bay manager Paul Whitaker and Hawke's Bay Today for their time and commitment in spreading the word about Limitless Hope.

"We are still 100 per cent behind the Swannell's, this is a bump in the road we have no doubt they will achieve their goal in helping others," editor Andrew Austin said.

Mr Whitaker vowed to continue his support for the cause and wanted to keep close ties forged with the Swannells before this decision was made.

As for the fate of the building on St Aubyn St - that was still very much up in the air.

"Unfortunately now due to time constraints if we can't get somebody to take the building in the next three weeks, it will have to be removed and stored or even possibly destroyed," he said.

The couple assured everyone who had donated and backed them that all funds raised would still go toward an emergency shelter for the region.

Hastings Mayor Lawrence Yule was actively working to get some land for the Swannells and supported their change of plan.