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Social housing review a catalyst for re-housing

Thursday, 16 September 2010, 5:32 pm
Press Release: Community Housing Aotearoa

Social housing review a catalyst for re-housing people in Christchurch?

A national gathering of housing organisations met this week in Wellington to discuss how the Government’s current review of social housing could help shape future housing options across New Zealand, beginning with the earthquake ravaged city of Christchurch.

Over a two-day meeting convened by umbrella group Community Housing Aotearoa, there was a consensus that the widely agreed inadequacy of current approaches to social housing have to change and that Christchurch could be where those changes first happen.

“Our meeting was focused on recommendations that have coincidentally emerged from the Government-appointed Housing Advisory Group and the Human Rights Commission in the last six weeks,” says David McCartney, Executive Officer of Community Housing Aotearoa.

“Both the Government’s advisory group and the Human Rights Commission have put their finger on the urgency of providing enough quality social housing to meet a level of high social need – a high social need that isn’t going away, and that will be particularly acute in Christchurch as it plans its recovery.

“Our members, such as the Comcare Trust in Christchurch, offer specialist experience in the provision of housing options that are about rebuilding lives, particularly for low-income New Zealanders, and they need to be at the top table for planning the recovery in Christchurch,” said David McCartney.

Annette Sutherland, Housing Services Manager at Christchurch’s Comcare Trust, spoke directly yesterday to the chair of the Government’s Housing Advisory Group, Dr Alan Jackson, about the damage done to social housing stock in Christchurch and the need to put in place the best possible solutions for new housing and helping to rebuild affected lives.

“You are telling us that community housing organisations have a bigger role to play and that we have to step up to the plate to work in partnership with the role of State housing for those niches in which we have the best expertise. With sufficient support from Government we can do that. In return we are asking you to tell the Government that the place to start on shifting the direction is Christchurch. We have solutions to offer and we want to be heard,” said Annette Sutherland, who is also a member of the Community Housing Aotearoa council.

The Housing Shareholders’ Advisory Group are currently fine-tuning their recommendations and will be reporting to Housing Minister Phil Heatley and Finance Minister Bill English by 8 October about a way forward for strengthening social and community housing. (See www.dbh.govt.nz)

ENDS

 
 
 
 
 
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