A warmer home for Northland whānau

Habitat for Humanity provides a wide range of home construction, repair, and renovation programmes aimed at building strength, stability, and independence through shelter.

Whangārei residents, Raina and Takiri, had repairs done on their Northland home through Habitat’s Home Repair Programme.

Raina discovered a section of wet carpet when she moved a bedroom dresser, “We noticed too late. I pulled out the dresser and the whole carpet was wet. A pipe had previously burst or leak, so the floor had rotted. We had wondered why we had to use the dehumidifier all the time.”

“We couldn’t get a builder because they thought it was too small of a job. Habitat came and replaced that part of the floor and recarpeted, it made such a difference.”

Minor repairs can dramatically improve the warmth and health of a home. Raina said, “This bedroom is now warm, and we can’t wait for winter. The problem is solved.”

Along with having the carpet fixed, their bathroom was transformed with a new shower, non-slip vinyl floor, wall linings, an extractor fan, and a heater. This made the space safer to use and will prevent future leaking and mould. Takiri said, “I had started getting stressed about the bathroom because I wanted to fix it myself, but I am really with happy with how it has just been done. I am also more settled simply because there is no cold chill in that bedroom anymore.”

Habitat’s Home Repair Programme is an affordable, no-interest solution for modest income homeowners to achieve critical maintenance and repairs.