Strong Voices

“I was at the opening of the Seddon Street complex and something told me it was where I was meant to be,” says Accessible Properties tenant Julie Davis.

In that moment she was sure she would take up the offer of one of the brand new units in Te Puke.

“It was such a great opportunity to get a lovely new home and I really needed to downsize. The place I’m moving from is too big, noisy and hard for me to keep clean.

“But the Seddon Street property is in a quiet street and it’s accessible, which means it will be much easier to get around and keep in order.

“And it’s in a great location, only a 10-minute walk up the road to get the groceries, which means I don’t have to rely on my family so much.

“It really is the perfect place for me at this time in my life.”

Accessible Properties is committed to building and modifying homes for people with limited mobility or disabilities and last year its portfolio included 13 fully accessible, one-bedroom units in Te Puke.

The Te Puke homes meet a double need. There is a very high demand for one- and two-bedroom properties on the social housing register and there is also an increasing demand for more accessible homes.

It’s very difficult for people with limited mobility or disabilities to find accommodation that’s affordable and suited to their needs. And it’s particularly hard in Tauranga and the Bay of Plenty.

The units have widened halls and doorways, level-access entry and showers, and lever door handles that are at the same height as the light switches. Outside, the paths have a low gradient and are wide enough for wheelchairs.

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Caption: Julie at the new Seddon Street complex. Photo credit: Te Puke Times.