Who We Are

About Us

The Upper Hutt Housing Charitable Trust was formed in 2016 as a faith based response to what was seen as a crisis forming in the affordable housing sector combined with the loss of State Housing in Upper Hutt.  They could see the negative impact this was having on households and the struggle by an increasing number to find affordable, safe and sustainable housing. The foundation members were not prepared to sit back and do nothing so the Trust was formed. The vision of the Trust is,

“That all our people in Upper Hutt have suitable and sustainable housing”.

As far as possible the Trust supports households from homelessness, insecure or unsafe housing into a permanent place to live, be it directly or through Transitional Housing. To achieve the vision the Trust adopts a “Housing First” approach to provide support to households who come to us as homeless. The “Ready to Rent” programme helps in securing permanent housing and our “Ready to Work” programme improves the financial capability of households.

From humble beginnings of one property and one household, the Trust now supports over 50 households in 32 properties. Our agreement for Transitional Housing has referrals from MSD being supported in short term housing with our support services being  successful in some 70% of cases into gaining long term sustainable housing.

In 2023 the Trust gained Level 3 Social Sector Accreditation for Housing Support Services and Programmes and won the Wellington Airport Regional (Upper Hutt) Award in the Health and Wellbeing Category.

Official Stuff

Trustees

Teresa Homan, Chairperson

Judy Dixon, Secretary

Supporting Organisations

We are very fortunate to be supported by the prayers, giving, and resources of many of the church communities and parishes in Upper Hutt, including:

  • St Joseph’s, Catholic
  • Our Lady of Grace, Catholic
  • St Mary’s, Anglican
  • St John’s, Anglican
  • St Hilda’s, Anglican
  • Upper Hutt Baptist
  • Rimutaka Baptist
  • Uniting Parish, Methodist/Presbyterian
  • Riverstones Assemblies of God
  • Lane Park Christian Church
  • Heretaunga Christian Centre
  • Salvation Army
  • St Margaret’s, Presbyterian

In addition, other organisations in Upper Hutt give us tremendous support, through their active involvement in our work and housing issues:

  • Orongomai Marae
  • Upper Hutt City Council
  • Ministry of Social Development
  • Ministry of Housing and Urban Development
  • Hutt Valley BEST