CHA welcomes fast-tracking of funding into emergency housing

Friday, 8 July 2016, 1:50 pm
Press Release: Community Housing Aotearoa

CHA welcomes fast-tracking of funding into emergency housing

Community Housing Aotearoa is applauding the Government’s move to fast-track much needed funding into emergency housing.

However, CHA says the Government now needs to complete the jigsaw by finalising a plan to deliver the needed 15,000 permanent social and affordable homes so people have somewhere to go once their emergency is resolved.
CHA, which represents community housing providers throughout New Zealand, is responding to the Government’s quick delivery of funding to respond to growing needs for emergency housing.

The process allows for a fast-track approval of $1.9 million to support 17 current providers. Proposals from new providers or expansions to existing programmes are running a slightly longer process, but will still be eligible for funding.

“This shows the Government can act quickly and fairly. It allows these organisations to maintain their focus on families in need and not on lengthy proposal writing to document what the Government already has evidence of what they can deliver.”

However he says while it will go a long way to meet urgent need, the reality remains this is just one part of the range of housing that New Zealand needs.

“The real gain for families will be when we see a long term sustainable housing solution. We want people to be able to move from emergency housing into long-term housing that’s warm, safe and dry. We estimate at least 15,000 permanent social and affordable new homes are required by 2020 to meet demand. Currently, the resources to deliver at this scale are not forthcoming.”

Scott Figenshow says the Government's announcement of $1 billion to fund infrastructure for new housing begs for a similarly scaled plan for new investment to deliver permanent social and affordable homes.

“This investment is necessary to prevent another Kiwi family from falling into homelessness. Prevention is always less expensive than emergency responses after families have run out of alternatives and find themselves on the streets.”

“CHA is hopeful the Government and all parties will work together to heed the call for additional investment in both emergency responses and adopt a bold plan to deliver more permanent social and affordable homes”, he says.

ENDS

© Scoop Media

Community Housing Aotearoa

Nga Wharerau o Aotearoa

Community Housing Aotearoa is the peak body for New Zealand's community housing sector. Our 110 members build and manage affordable and social housing.

Our Vision is to make sure every New Zealander is well-housed in a warm, safe, dry and affordable home. This is a basic human right.

We work to support the growth and development of community housing providers to enable them to provide affordable and social housing.

We want to demonstrate that community housing is a critical element alongside private and government owned housing. No one can do it alone.

Community Housing Aotearoa aims to:

1. be the voice of the community housing sector
2. build capacity and foster collaboration
3. promote best practice in housing policy
4. champion quality and excellence.

Contact Community Housing Aotearoa

• Website - communityhousing.org.nz/
• Our Place - Learn how we think this can be achieved
• Phone - +64 4 385 8722
• About us - Our 2021 annual report is online here
• Email - support@communityhousing.org.nz
• Link - Members directory
• Physical Address - Level 11, Ranchhod Tower, 39 The Terrace/102-112 Lambton Quay, Wellington