In a ten year journey, Stephen has gone from being homeless to renting with ŌCHT to owning an ŌCHT-built home.
Ten years ago, Stephen was living in his car. His marriage had ended, he was couch surfing, and he was carrying a lot of debt.
One day there was a knock on his car window. A local MP’s office gave him a coffee, a shower and help to apply for a council flat. By the end of that day, Stephen had a home of his own.
“I was so grateful for that assistance,” he says.
Over the next few years, Stephen paid down his debt and watched his son grow up. He also noticed his home was cold and damp, and decided to do something about it. In 2019 he ran for mayor on a platform of better community and council housing. Since then, he has become a well-known community advocate, including speaking up for ŌCHT tenants and for ŌCHT itself.
Then came the chance to own his own home through Secure Home, ŌCHT’s progressive home ownership programme. Secure Home lets working families buy a new home while ŌCHT keeps the land, which brings the price well below the open market.
In March this year, after a lot of hard work, Stephen moved into his own home. “Now my son and I feel safe, happy and secure.”
“If you can’t afford to do it privately I do recommend going through the Secure Home programme. It is so easy. It may be stressful at times, but it’s so worth it.”
The change has been bigger than bricks and mortar. Stephen was in a dark place when he first heard about the programme. “It created a light and it pulled me out. It’s given me a brighter future to look forward to.”
His son’s reaction says it all. “The best thing he’s said is, ‘I’ve got my own room, my own space.’” Now his son is looking forward to owning a home one day too.
Stephen loves his new community, where families talk and connect. “I love waking up in the morning to hear kids playing just over my fence.”
His advice to anyone who thinks home ownership is out of reach is simple. “If you can’t afford to do it privately, I do recommend going through Secure Home. It may be stressful at times, but it’s so worth it.”
