Denis O’Rourke MP

Spokesperson for Housing

16 JANUARY 2015

Dysfunctional Government Puts Stress on Family

New Zealand First is shocked by the treatment of a Blenheim family, who have just won a last minute reprieve and been given a state house.

“The revelation that the Edgecome family was being reduced to living in an old tent because of the government’s appalling social housing policy was a sad day for all Kiwis who want a fair go for families in need, says New Zealand First Housing Spokesperson Denis O’Rourke.

“The family was advised last October they would have to move from rental accommodation and said they askedWork and Income and Housing NZ for assistance.

“But the government has all sorts of excuses why they only came to the family’s aid at the last minute.

“It is incredible they were so insensitive to the needs of genuine Kiwis that they put a Mum and her children under such stress and in such a predicament.

“The government's social housing reforms were roundly criticised by New Zealand First when they were implemented last year.

“We said it wouldn't work, and we have already been proved right.

“The Ministry of Social Development is supposed to assess people in need of housing assistance and see that they get it by working with Housing NZ – but this proves the right hand does not know what the left hand is doing.

“The Edgecome family with three young boys, one of whom has cerebral palsy, are cared for by their mother and were homeless through no fault of their own.

“The government's new policy is clearly aimed at reducing its social housing effort. It’s a hands-off approach.

“The inevitable result is that deserving families are being made homeless. That is a disgrace.

“What we are seeing is a social housing calamity flowing from inept government policy based on National party right wing dogma,” says Mr O’Rourke.

ENDS

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