Tauranga's social housing community is continuing to grow in stature after receiving another funding boost for four more properties to be built in the city.

Housing Minister Nick announced yesterday a further $3.5million of funding for community social housing provider Accessible Properties to build a total of 20 more homes in Wellington, Tauranga and Hamilton.

Accessible Properties' housing units near completion on Hynds Road, Greerton. These will be similar to the four to be developed in Otumoetai following further Government funding.

Tauranga will receive four new homes to be built in Otumoetai with an expected completion date of October 2014.

Accessible Properties already boasts four houses in Landscape Road, Otumoetai with another five nearing completion in Hynds Road, Greerton.

Accessible Properties general manager Andrew Wilson is delighted to expand their reach within Tauranga after targeting the city – along with Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Hamilton – as being highly stressed in terms of affordable housing.

But he admits there is still more that can be achieved to alleviate the problem in the highlighted areas.

'We are pleased with what we have done. There is a lot more to be done, but it's a start.

'We are trying to put them in places throughout the whole community. They need to be near public transport routes, near shops and easily accessible and user-friendly.”

Andrew says the houses will not stray far from the standard two bedroom layout, which is wheelchair-accessible after it was discovered there is a critical shortage of local housing suited for people with disabilities.

Nick says the Government is focussing on growing the community social housing sector to support families in need, as well as addressing the root causes of housing affordability.

'We are taking action on a range of fronts including freeing up land supply, reforming the RMA, reigning in council development charges, keeping interest rates lower for longer, scrutinising building material costs, investing in skills and productivity, and supporting first home buyers through changes to Welcome Home Loans and the KiwiSaver First Home Deposit Subsidy.”

He says the organisation has been a major recipient of funding in this round of grants from the Social Housing Unit receiving a total $8.9m.

'The Government is keen to grow the community social housing sector as we recognise their ability to provide a good quality, low-cost housing service, as well as providing access to comprehensive support services for their tenants.”

The Social Housing Reform Bill is expected to be passed into law by Christmas.

'The real game changer will allow community social housing providers to access the income related rent subsidy for new tenants. This is significant as up until now only Housing New Zealand has been able to access the subsidy.”