December 22nd.
News just in from Ireland,a country very similar to our own with a serious housing crisis.
Dublin City Council is paying hotels hostels and other emergency accommodation providers,around $2 million per week to shelter the increasing numbers of homeless tenants in the city.
The government has imposed a 4% rent cap on all rental accommodation in Dublin and Cork City to try get a grip on the increasing problems associated with high rents.Rents have increased year by year and the outcome has seen homeless people living on the street and in cars and parks.
It should be noted that around 60%of the population of the Republic of Ireland live in Dublin,in New Zealand it is predicted that 60% of our population will live in the Auckland region,within the next decade
So central government should acknowledge that research,we have to build more state housing it is a simple fact of life,or homelessness will be the new normal for many tenants in New Zealand.Rural New Zealand is predicted to decline over this period,so there has to be a change in government thinking to try and avoid this from happening and invest in the regions.
Here in Palmerston North the City council is reviewing its housing policies with a view to increasing its rental portfolio, which is good news they are looking at building 30 units,when they can afford too.
The Manawatu Tenants Union,still gets inquiries about the upgrade of Papaioea Place which has fallen of the agenda after promising a rebuild of the units.Tenants have lost faith in the council.
