Hi There.
The Manawatu Tenants Union would like to take this opportunity to thank all the social housing tenants who signed a petition requesting that the Palmerston North City Council retain ownership of its pensioner and social housing portfolio.
The petition was presented to the PNCC community development committee,durning the submissions debate.It was disappointing that Grey Power and a number of church groups did not provide submission on behalf of their vulnerable members.While some councillors want to transfer ownership of the housing portfolio to a trust,the population is ageing and more pensioner housing will be required to meet this demand.
The PNCC councillors set the standards in good landlord practices for the city,private investors take their lead.It is vital that the PNCC retains its good reputation as the leading landlord in the city and retains its vital pensioner housing.
The final decision will be made by PNCC councillors on March 9th,we trust that they do the right thing,in providing leadership in this essential area of community life.We will of course keep you up with the decision they make.
Kevin Reilly
Manawatu Tenants Union
Those who cannot remember the past are condemmed to repeat it.The present National led government should be aware of this saying.
The National led government of Jim Bolger brought in the 1993 Housing Reform package.Market rents for state house tenants and the accommodation supplement,a subsidy to private landlords,now costing the New Zealand taxpayer $1.2 billion every year and increasing.
The reform,s also introduced a programme called "Tenants right to buy".The government sold 13,000 plus states homes,but only 8% of tenants were in a position to purchase their home,92%were sold to private landlords and on average at $16,000 less than sitting tenants.
These reform,s ended the "first home ownership " policies that had served New Zealand well over the years.New Zealand had one of the highest home ownership rates in the western world at the time.State Advances,Housing Corp. Loans along with ability to captalise on benefits were wiped by the stroke of the minister,s pen [John Luxton].
Fast forward to 2015 to the Key National led government,the only difference being that it is now mission impossible for a poor family to obtain a state home.The government has raised the bar,for many poor families seeking affordable housing this explains the record small numbers on the waiting lists around the country.
The National Party,s dislike of state housing is embedded in its DNA,their housing policies have created the housing poverty we see today,its market failure by anyones standard.If the missing million voters had voted it may have been a different outcome for the future of their children and grand children.
The National led government of Jim Bolger brought in the 1993 Housing Reform package.Market rents for state house tenants and the accommodation supplement,a subsidy to private landlords,now costing the New Zealand taxpayer $1.2 billion every year and increasing.
The reform,s also introduced a programme called "Tenants right to buy".The government sold 13,000 plus states homes,but only 8% of tenants were in a position to purchase their home,92%were sold to private landlords and on average at $16,000 less than sitting tenants.
These reform,s ended the "first home ownership " policies that had served New Zealand well over the years.New Zealand had one of the highest home ownership rates in the western world at the time.State Advances,Housing Corp. Loans along with ability to captalise on benefits were wiped by the stroke of the minister,s pen [John Luxton].
Fast forward to 2015 to the Key National led government,the only difference being that it is now mission impossible for a poor family to obtain a state home.The government has raised the bar,for many poor families seeking affordable housing this explains the record small numbers on the waiting lists around the country.
The National Party,s dislike of state housing is embedded in its DNA,their housing policies have created the housing poverty we see today,its market failure by anyones standard.If the missing million voters had voted it may have been a different outcome for the future of their children and grand children.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)