Willem’s story: “Now I feel more secure about my future.”
“I’m so fortunate that charities like HBH Group exist – I really don’t know what I would have done without them.”
Willem and his wife immigrated from South Africa when he was 65 years old, as both of their daughters had moved here. They owned a home in South Africa, but couldn’t afford to buy in Auckland, so they had no choice but to rent.
“It was a financial shock when we first arrived,” he says. “The proceeds of our home and my pension which I left behind meant we were financially struggling in Auckland. Then my wife died not long after we got here.”
After four years, Willem was forced to move from the little flat he rented when the owner decided to sell the property. “I wasn’t sure what I would do and where I would be able to afford to live,” he explains. “I searched online and discovered Stevenson Village. It is one of a kind – a very special place – so I thought I’d be very lucky to get a place here.”
Willem said when he was accepted and moved in soon after, he couldn’t believe his good luck. “I’m so fortunate that charities like HBH Group exist – I really don’t know what I would have done without them,” he says. As well as having a lovely place to call home, Willem says he enjoys living amongst “folks who are all of the same age.” “There’s something nice about living in a community of people who are in a similar situation and understand one another. We respect each other and live very well together in our little community,” he enthuses.
Willem still enjoys playing golf during the week and getting some exercise and tending to his garden at Stevenson Village, although he says he’s not really a gardener.
“It’s a very supportive community to belong to, and the fact that it is affordable as well has changed my life,” Willem says. “When we first arrived here from South Africa, I felt very insecure and financially vulnerable. HBH has changed that, and I now feel more secure about my future. It’s a great relief.”