West Auckland whānau will soon move into 24 warm, permanent homes, with the first stage of Visionwest's Village of Hope – Te Kāinga o te Tūmanako opening in Glen Eden today.

Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka joined West Auckland community members to officially open the 24 community housing apartments which are the first stage of a long-term development bringing housing, support and community together in West Auckland. The integrated village brings together long-term affordable housing, wraparound support and intergenerational living, creating a place where people can build stability, connection and a sense of belonging.

The opening comes as New Zealand grapples with ongoing unmet housing need, marked by a shortage of affordable housing supply, rising housing insecurity, and unprecedented levels of homelessness.  

“Community Housing providers play an important role in providing and increasing the supply of social and affordable housing. Alongside this provision, the wrap around support is equally important to ensure whanau can get the support they need as they look at their goals for their future and the future of their children,” said Visionwest CEO Lisa Woolley. 

The Village of Hope provides long-term housing for an intergenerational community that includes kaumatua and older residents, people with disabilities, families and single adults. Eight ground-floor apartments are designed for accessible living and reserved for kaumatua and older residents, and residents with disabilities.

At the heart of the development is a standalone community whare connecting the two residential buildings, creating a welcoming shared space for residents to gather, learn and celebrate together. The village is also trialling two electric vehicles as a residents’ car-share programme which complements the development’s public transport options and supports affordable and sustainable travel.

Lisa Woolley said the development reflects what the organisation has learnt from decades of working alongside West Auckland whānau.

“We’ve learnt over many years that permanent housing with the right supports is transformational in giving whānau the stability and confidence they need to build hope for the future.

“These homes are about giving people a place to put down roots, find genuine community and thrive. That is what the Village of Hope is all about.”

The Village of Hope has been many years in the making. Next month, the vision, planning and collaboration becomes a reality when Visionwest welcomes their first residents and whānau. Residents are referred through the Ministry of Social Development’s Housing Register, which currently includes more than 19,000 households nationwide. In West Auckland alone, 1,146 households remain on the register.

“With the first whānau expected to move in from late November 2026, these 24 apartments will provide life-changing housing opportunities for 24 households and make a meaningful contribution to addressing local housing need,” Lisa Woolley said.

The development has been made possible through support from the Ministry for Cities, Environment, Regions and Transport (MCERT), financing from the Community Housing Funding Agency, and Visionwest’s own contribution of land and housing development funding.

“We’re grateful to the Government for partnering with us, and to every partner who has helped bring these homes to life,” she said.

“We know our community, and we’re here for the long term. When whānau have a stable home and the support to build the life they choose, we see hope restored and lives transformed. Children can stay connected to their school and neighbourhood, families can put down roots, and the benefits can be felt for generations to come.”

Visionwest has deep roots in Glen Eden. Its story began here in 1982, when members of Glen Eden Baptist Church took over a disused railway station on a lease for one dollar a year to support local families in need.

Almost four and a half decades later, Visionwest has grown to walk alongside more than 14,000 people a year through housing, food support, financial mentoring, youth, counselling, home healthcare and wraparound services. Last year, it helped 441 families move into permanent housing. Today they house over 1000 households.

Importantly, the 24 apartments are the first stage of the wider Village of Hope – Te Kāinga o te Tūmanako. Visionwest’s plans for stage two include a purpose-built Community Hub, which would give whānau a single front door to its services with all of its wraparound support located in one facility.

A third stage, an intergenerational learn centre bringing tamariki and kaumātua together, is also being explored.

On completion, the Village of Hope will bring housing, support and community together on one 1.2 hectare site, giving West Auckland whānau a place to live, find support and belong.