Sickness beneficiary Marie Rigden says her one-bedroom unit in Otumoetai was so cold in winter it felt like a morgue.
So much so, she promised herself to move out of the unit rather than face another winter there.
This was before it was insulated as part of the Tauranga Healthy Homes project.
The procect provides ceiling insulation, hot water cylinder wrap and lagging, draught proofing and underfloor insulation for people who can least afford it.
Since the project started in June last year 219 properties have been retrofitted in this way.
Marie says she feels blessed she and her Vale St Village neighbours have been offered this assistance.
"We are over the moon, we feel so privileged. When I think of some |
of the houses I've rented in the past and I used to freeze when I was living in them.
"It is so nice to wake up in the morning and not feel that cold air and have all of the windows frosted up. It has made life so much more pleasant.
"I would never have been able to afford to have this done in a million years."
Landlord Molly Reid has also taken advantage of the scheme. She had a unit insulated three months ago and is having another three units insulated in coming weeks.
She says she took up the Healthy Homes offer as the properties she owns that do not have insulation are cold in winter.
"I did it to make my tenants happy. I have got very good tenants and I don't have insulation so I |
decided to get it done."
The Healthy Homes Project still has funding available for this financial year and applications can be made by people who fit the criteria.
To qualify the house must be built before 1977 and the householder be on a low income (holds a Community Services Card).
The household should have health problems, particularly respiratory and the the householder must be willing to contribute 20 per cent of the cost.
The funders of the project include: TECT; BOPDHB; BoP Community Trust; Tauranga City Council and EECA.
The project is coordinated by Energy Options Charitable Company Limited.
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