12 May 2019

Government action on homelessness an encouraging step

The Green Party welcomes today’s announcement that our Government will pay for an extra 1044 places in the Housing First programme, Co-Leader Marama Davidson said today.

“We know that homelessness is getting worse. Housing is a basic right. It is crucial to our health and wellbeing, and our ability to participate in a community.”

“Housing First helps the chronically homeless get into a home, and then stay there, with focused support for whatever is going on in that person’s life. This can be transformational for those individuals and families.”

“We need to support the organisations who are on the front line every day, and who understand the needs of the people who are struggling with homelessness in their communities.”

“Over 70% of Housing First participants are Māori and Pasifika. The Greens also know that supporting Māori and Pasifika led organisations is crucial in this space.”

“I saw Housing First’s service first hand when I was able to support a man from my own community. Housing First were there to sit down with us, ask him what was going on with his life and what support was needed, and then got him into a home. When people fall through the cracks, it often falls on community organisations like this to show government how it is done. It’s great we are getting on behind them today,” Marama Davidson said.

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