Jimmy joins the Queenstown Lakes Community Housing Trust

Rationale’s Jimmy Sygrove has recently been appointed as a Trustee to the Queenstown Lakes Community Housing Trust.

The Trust was formed in Queenstown 2007 to help get people into houses that otherwise couldn’t afford them. Since then, they have helped over 340 households through a range of different affordable housing programmes.

Housing affordability is an issue particularly endemic to international resort towns throughout the world. Places like Whistler, Aspen and Queenstown are typical tourism destinations which share similar challenges with significant numbers of low-median income earners and high housing costs.

The Queenstown Lakes consistently has one of the highest median house prices in New Zealand. The problem is amplified by the higher cost of living in Queenstown while wages remain on par with the rest of the country. This has led to a challenge for the community to attract and retain workers.

Jimmy has a long history of working with central and local government and is well-versed in the challenges and opportunities faced by this sector. Prior to joining QLCHT as a Trustee, he spent six years on the board of the Arrowtown Promotion and Business Association (APBA), including three as Chair.

“I am genuinely stoked to be joining the team,” Jimmy says. “Bringing up our two young boys in the Queenstown Lakes, I understand the challenges of the housing market, as well as the higher cost of living that families in our district face. I feel very fortunate to be able to raise my family here, and being able to help other people make their homes in the district is something I’m really proud to be a part of.”

“For Rationale’s part, we were involved in some of the modelling that led to the development of the housing trust many years ago, so this has come full circle in a way.”

Rationale fully supports our team being involved in community organisations such as the Housing Trust, and it’s great to see Jimmy being able to make a difference on one of the Queenstown Lakes’ most pressing issues.

QLCHT chair Richard Thomas says the Trust is delighted with Jimmy’s appointment to the board. “Jimmy brings a wide-ranging set of skills and experience to QLCHT, including a deep understanding of local housing issues. We look forward to utilising his skillset in this governance capacity.”

Read more about the work of the QLCHT here

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