Manawatu Tenants Union
August 10th 2017
Some more information on the housing crisis griping the country at present.
This information comes from Child Poverty Action Group,and the latest Household Income Report.It states that families are suffering under the strain of housing costs,with half of all accommodation supplement recipients spending half of their incomes on rental costs.Seven per cent of all children [75,000] living in homes that experience issues with dampness and mould,and are hard to keep warm.
The statements also supports a newly elected government to introduce policies to increase the supply of state houses,and introduce a system of regulating conditions for all rental housing.Something that The Manawatu Tenants Union has been pushing for since 1996 a warrant of fitness so that housing is fit for purpose,it will happen one day as New Zealand now has a culture of renting whither the government likes it or not.
The work for housing improvements has just begun as there will be generations who will always rent their homes,we have to improve tenants rights and obligations for all concerned in the wider community.
Support the political party that supports these ideals and give them your vote ,your vote is a powerful weapon in the fight for a better society for all New Zealanders.
August 9th 2017
Scoop media and Public Engagement Projects have published a report concerning what New Zealanders think about affordable housing. As we know the debate concerning housing affordability is dominated by comments from politicians and the media,ordinary citizens have had very few avenues to express an opinion on housing affordability until now.
A large number of the participants agreed on a range of other aspects of the affordable housing market.There were some who believed that the free market approach would deliver affordable housing,it should be noted that the free market has never delivered affordable rents ,full stop.
Here is a snapshot of the areas of agreement.
85% believe that central government has a responsibility for building and owning a large portfolio of houses.
73% supported a role for Maori and community groups to provide affordable,emergency housing along with social housing.
91% agreed that greater provision is needed for emergency housing and more social housing, not just a push to highlight home ownership which is never going to happen for the majority of citizens who have been forced to become lifetime renters.
87% of participants do not believe that a $500.000 house is an affordable home.
Participants in the survey included a wide range of people some were home owners,renters and property investors.They said that to solve the housing crisis requires leadership and long term commitment to solutions along with a non-partisan political agreement to house New Zealanders today and into the future.A political will is required from all parties to do the job.
Tenants have the power to start the first steps in rebuilding a broken housing system by making your vote count to restore fairness for all who call New Zealand home.
August 8th Homeless report.
In the upcoming Census 2018 for the first time,everyone will be asked,if their homes are damp and moldy.It will be interesting to see what measures they use to define damp and moldy?
In another survey from Al jazeera [TV] they highlighted the serious housing crisis in New Zealand today.Once upon a time,New Zealand lead the developed world and was a pioneer in providing decent affordable housing for its people [Housing New Zealand].State housing was a platform for assisting with first home ownership through a number of state grants [State Advances --Housing Corp. loans--Capitalization of benefits ] they provided New Zealand with the highest home ownership rates in the developed world at the time.The grants were wiped with the stroke of a pen by then National Minister of Housing John Luxton.
The survey stated just how far the government has failed to deliver decent affordable housing to its people,they have a lot to answer for.The National led governments have a belief that the free market is best placed to deliver rental housing,this belief is embedded into their soul.The fact as can be seen today,is that the market has failed to deliver for so many working and low income New Zealanders,who are now the majority of renters in the country.
The housing crisis created by the government is a disgrace,The homelessness being experienced by many families is not going to go away anytime soon.
If things are to change for the common good,make sure you vote in the up coming general election,make a change for your children and grandchildren so they can have the opportunity to live in decent affordable housing.
Your vote and every ones vote is important for change to happen,stand up for what you believe in and what's right for your community,make sure you vote,OK its that important.
July 24th 2017
Interesting to read in the newspapers,what many already know,that new research indicates New Zealand has some of the worst rates of homelessness in the developed world.
The legacy of the John Key government has just carried on. Bill English and Paula Bennett were the ministers in charge of all Social and Housing New Zealand housing and bear a lot of the responsibly for the crisis that housing has become.They are seen as mean and compassionless with scant regard for the poor and ordinary New Zealanders,looking for affordable accommodation.Many tenants feel angry and abandoned,as they have been made homeless and having to live in motels where conditions apply as well as cars and the streets.
Here in Palmerston North the Royal Hotel has closed down which makes a bad situation worse for those seeking accommodation.With an election only a matter of weeks away,use your vote to change the government as we need affordable housing now. There is no political mileage in tax cuts they have never delivered for the poor ever.So for the sake of your children and your grandchildren vote for more housing that is affordable.
If You Are Not Outraged You Are Not Paying Attention
With the general election just a matter of weeks away,the new incoming government will have to widen its scope,to overcome the present housing crisis being felt by an increasing number of New Zealander's.The crisis has impoverished many people through being made homeless, the main cause is the lack of affordable housing to rent,and high rental costs.In New Zealand we have have witnessing the end of the state involvement in the provision of state housing and the reintroduction of housing poverty for increasing numbers of tenants.
So make you are enrolled to vote and that you use your vote its your most powerful weapon use it,to give the government the message that the housing situation at present is not acceptable. Your vote counts as tenants,now have the power to change things,remember that and pass it on to your friends and family.
THE UK ELECTION OUTCOMES CONCERNING HOUSING 2017.
Tory MP's [ National Party in NZ.] have been evicted from their seats for not taking housing seriously.Theresa May [PM] misjudged the public,her manifesto had more page numbers than spending figures,nothing on the housing crisis in the UK.
Young people rallied around the Labour Party in droves as they had addressed the housing crisis,while the media,had nothing but criticism and scorn for the Labour Party and its leader Jeremy Corbyn. Social media and Corbyn's rallies made people feel that they could be part of something bigger,a better future future for the generations to come a fairer society.
It is the young people who feel the effects of austerity more keenly than most,due to rising costs,exorbitant rents and many living in poor housing,problems that are an everyday fact of life for increasing numbers of New Zealanders.The sheer numbers of MP's who are landlords is astounding,which begs the question who do they represent at the end of the day.
In the coming weeks,we have a general election here in NZ.The number of renters in NZ is significant,more renters than home owners in fact.After years of being ignored,abused and taken for granted,they now have the power to change the government.Housing in NZ is in crisis, government policies have failed completely to deliver affordable housing for those seeking accommodation,homelessness is now a fact of life.
Housing New Zealand has been downsized and continues to be sold off to the private sector, this has been a disaster for low income families who are now living in motels and emergency accommodation.Along with the media who go out of their way to stigmatize state housing and their tenants just add's to the crisis.It should be noted that the [PM ] Bill English and his deputy Paula Bennett were the ministers in charge of Housing New Zealand and social housing for some years and must bear some responsibly for the chaos that is facing housing in NZ today.
So make sure you use your power and vote in the up coming election if you want to see change in the housing system for you and your children and grandchildren,it is that important.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)