Tony MILNE

Labour Candidate for Christchurch Central

17 June 2014 MEDIA STATEMENT

Why are Flockton and Beckenham residents still waiting for accommodation assistance?

"104 days after the March floods and the homeless of Flockton and Beckenham are still waiting for accommodation support. That’s 104 days too long," says Labour’s Christchurch Central candidate Tony Milne.

Residents of the Flockton Basin and Lower Heathcote are growing increasingly frustrated at the lack of a response around long-term accommodation or financial assistance for those forced out of their homes by flooding.

“Residents are stressed because they are running out of their limited accommodation allowance from their insurance flooding claims.

“Is this really how we deal with the homeless in our country? These residents are homeless through no fault of their own but because of a massive earthquake and the resulting drop of land levels making their homes flood prone.

“I won’t sit silently by and watch the people of Christchurch Central face these challenges on their own. A Government response is long overdue. The rest of New Zealand is watching.

“What is the Government waiting for?”

David Cunliffe wrote to John Key in early May offering cross-partisan support for a flooding response, including Labour’s support for extending the temporary housing support (TAS) to earthquake and flood effected residents, more temporary accommodation and buy-out options.

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