Affordable housing is the cornerstone of family life,or so we have been lead to belive.Renting a home in Palmerston North is typically expensive and insecure.The average cost of moving into a house is around $2000.00 [ 4 weeks bond + of 1 weeks rent +2 weeks rent in advance + agents fee +GST ].
The Manawatu Tenants Union has noted an increase in the number of homeless families.Housing New Zealand no longer assist those with serious housing needs.There are at present a large number of vacant state houses around the city,due to a possible earthquake.
The connection between the growing number of homeless families and those state houses laying vacant has yet to register with thepowers that be.Many of these vacant homes could should be used for emergency or short term accommodation for desperate families,until central government decides what to do with vital accommodation.
Affordable housing should shape up to be an election issue.The grime failure of current housing policy,reliant more than ever on the private sector, just reinforces the case for government to invest in a state house building programme.
Poverty is not about a group over there, seperate from us,it is about everyone.There is too much at stake,to ignore the costs both human and financial of the continuing struggle faced by many families.
Manawatu Tenants Union