April 3rd. 2017
The Manawatu Tenants Union has been busy in the last number of weeks dealing with the number of homeless families,around the City of Palmerston North.
At the moment we are trying to keep a family in their state home,they were given a review of their circumstances,and were informed that they could and should get a house in the private sector.The family consists of the mother her daughter and son,plus their children[primary school children].I went with the mother to MSD to engage about a review of the review but were told that the purpose of the visit was to try to get onto the HNZ waiting,possibly 2/3 homes required for the family who wish to remain under the same roof.
The main problem is that HNZ along with PNCC have long waiting lists as do Manawatu Community Housing Trust and it must be said the private sector, motel accommodation is also being used to try to cover the shortage of affordable housing. The Manawatu Tenants Union is at a loss to try and understand why should a family be made homeless when there is a serious lack of affordable housing for them to move into.
We have written to the Prime Minister to keep him up with the play on the short comings of this policy which would be seen as reasonable if there were a number of affordable houses around,but the fact is there are none.I have contacted the Manawatu Standard to talk to the tenants on the very real posssibly of being put out onto the street,so far there has been no interest from the paper.
