Kelli Pike, known as Kelli from the Tron, is a blogger and Free FM podcaster on political, environmental and social issues for the city. Photo / Supplied
Kelli Pike, known as Kelli from the Tron, is a blogger and Free FM podcaster on political, environmental and social issues for the city. Photo / Supplied
The Hamilton City Council has committed $2 million towards a community land trust. The money comes from the controversial sale of council-owned pensioner flats.
Hamilton Mayor Andrew King is excited about the initiative which he believes will make it easier for "the missing middle" to get their foot in thedoor of their first home.
I believe it is a move to be applauded. We have a habit of using the same solutions that have failed in the past to resolve problems — particularly when it comes to housing.
A community land trust is a relatively new model for New Zealand but has been shown to work in other settings. You're effectively taking the cost of land out of the purchase price. It all seems to make sense, so where is all the fanfare? It's not just the idea of setting up the trust in collaboration with community funders that is exciting, it's that we have a council that is seeing and doing what it can so that Hamiltonians might be able to pay down a mortgage not rent.
This model wasn't dreamed up in a council meeting late at night — we have had firm advocates from the community, like Samantha Rose from SHAMA involved from the start and it is my hope that the council value their knowledge and passion enough to make sure that the community stays involved for the whole process. A real partnership with a real solution to our housing crisis.
