The Manawatu Tenants Union has noticed a large increase in the number of families seeking advice and for somewhere to call home.Housing New Zealand intends to reduce its housing stock in the city by 504 homes on the grounds that there is no need for state houses,they are wrong but these decisions are made by officials who dont live in the city or the central region itself.The impact of the loss of 504 affordable will have a huge impact on the city and its plans for growth,yet the PNCC have made no statement on this issue.It should be noted that these homes will NOT be rebuilt at all,the city of Palmerston North can not afford to lose this number of affordable homes, they are all occupied at present,well most of them. The issue of earthquake risks is still on going, to date they have started to demolish a number of state homes in Rugby/ Raleigh Streets,there are a number still awaiting a notice to see if and when they will be demolished.If they keep them vacant for long enough they will become to big  a problem to make fit for purpose,so knocking them over will be the only outcome.

Housing New Zealand itself has become a problem,a serious one for an increasing number of families seeing affordable accommodation around the city.The government has built a Berlin Wall around the eligibility rules making it a no go area for many tenants,they are told to seek emergency accommodation if at all possible,here in Palmerston North there is no emergency accommodation for families there has not been any emergency family accommodation for 15 years or more.

Housing is an election issue this time around so make sure you are on the electoral roll and use your vote to change things the present housing policies are failing a growing number of New Zealanders,it is within your power to turn it around for the wider public good,this is in everyones interests.