NEW FLATS FOR PENSIONERS

Press, Volume LXXXV, Issue 25934, 14 October 1949, Page 2

NEW FLATS FOR PENSIONERS

WOMEN’S BLOCK MAY BE BUILT STATEMENT BY MR G. W. DELL Another block of flats for pensioners, similar to the block at Church Corner, Riccarton, which is now nearing completion, may be built in Christchurch. The flats will be used mainly for lone elderly women on low incomes or the age benefit. The chairman of the Christchurch Civil Housing Allocation Committee (Mr G. W. Dell) said last evening that the committee understood that a new block would be constructed. The most urgent housing need in Christchurch was for elderly women who were living alone, and if a new block for this purpose was built, the most necessitous cases in Christchurch would be accommodated. Mr Doll said that the committee had reviewed the applications for the flats at Church Corner and had made a preliminary selection of 42 married couples to occupy them. Qualifications were that the couples should not be under 55, that they should be ih receipt of the age benefit, invalidity benefit, war pension from World War I. veteran’s pension or superannuation and other income not exceeding the age benefit. The committee had also taken living conditions into account. Accommodation would be made available for those whose conditions were reasonable, but whose rent was too high in relation to their income, and for those in friction with other tenants. The first block of four flats may be opened ?t the end of the month. There are nine other blocks, each containing four flats and one double unit in the settlement. Each flat has one bedroom, a living-room, a glassed-in veranda, kitchenette, bathroom and lavatory, with communal laundry and drying