Downtown Community Ministry Bulletin:
Underfunded Housing

May 18 2011 - The twelve new housing projects to receive Government funding will barely make a dent in the level of housing urgently needed.

“Realistically, the Government needs to make a significant investment to provide enough housing for those that need it. Building six houses in South Auckland is hardly going to address the issues there. It’s a token gesture at best,” says Corie Haddock of Lifewise, and chair of the NZ Coalition to End Homelessness (NZCEH).

“We also need to ask whether they have got the areas that they are focusing on right. There are other areas in just as much, if not more, need that haven’t been addressed”, says Corie.

The NZCEH will be meeting in Northland on Thursday this week. Northland is one of the lowest average income areas in New Zealand, and has the lowest growth in NZ. Holding the NZCEH meeting there is no coincidence as the latest round of funding neglects this area completely. Stephanie McIntyre, director of Downtown Community Ministry (DCM) will be attending the meeting.

“Many of the houses people live in up in Northland are of a low standard and in poor condition and would be considered untenable in other areas of New Zealand,” says Corie.

Stephanie says, “It’s time we acknowledged the critical lack of affordable housing in the community. In particular, the urgent need for permanent accommodation is evident.”

ENDS

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