Interesting to hear Palmerston North City Councillor Susan Baty say"there is no housing crisis in Palmerston North".

She would say that ,as a landlord and a supporter of the present government's social housing agenda.

That there is no housing crisis will be news to the community and church groups who work along side tenants in the rental housing market.There is a real shortage of decent,affordable rental accommodation around the city,and HNZ is selling 500 state homes which will have a big impact on those seeking affordable housing in the city.

HNZ invented a system for social housing that only they understand,seemingly finding way's to house to house as few families as possible.In reality HNZ is disappearing bit by bit,which just add's to the crisis being faced by a growing number of families.

So good on City Councillor Chris Teo-Sherrell for putting forward the recommendation that the city council should be building 12 houses per.year.The need need is there and private investors are not interested in that end of the rental market.

So let's see the city council show some leadership in the crisis as the population of the city are growing older and the proposed housing is needed now not in 10/20 years time.

Affordable Housing

                  Affordable housing has become a very fashionable idea recently.Just like taxpayers propping up low wages,affordable housing is only needed because ,in many places,the private rental market is out of reach for many tenants.

                  The New Zealand Productivity Commission has stated that the Accommodation Supplement paid to landlords,costs $1.3 billion annually.While this subsidy reduces the pressure on low income households,the bottom 20% of households still pay more than 40% of their disposable income on rent.It has also be noted that any landlord reduction in rent,will largely be offset by reductions in the accommodation supplement,this will not make a tenant better off.

                    For a growing number of people,renting is the only potion.Political parties seem to have a pre-occupation with home ownership but the real challenges are to be seen in the private rental market.One of these issues,is the withdrawal by central government in providing state housing for the growing number of families who need low cost rental accommodation.Any reform of the housing market has to help tenants  by offering them an affordable rent,and by increasing the state housing stock.

Kevin Reilly  

Hi There.

               The government intends to SELL a fair number of HNZ homes, to make themselfs look good in trying to balance the books. The poor and the voiceless are once again going to bear the brunt of housing policies that failed to deliver affordable housing in the 1990',it is very  much a case of reheated leftovers,no new ideas or policies.What is required is a housing building programme to stimulate the economy ,social housing not social cleansing of the poor is what is needed to create a stable community around the country.Encourage local councils to become engaged in a house building programme with low interest loans,many of these ideas worked in the past and could work again,all that is required is the political will.Housing is that important,it is the center of life as we know it. Many of those in political power at present had a good start to life with an affordable state house,but they seem happy to make sure no one else will have the benefits they enjoyed to get on in life.This is not fair,despite all the talk that New Zealand is a fair society for all people who call New Zealand home,we have to make our politicians accountable for the damage they will cause if affordable state housing is allowed to disappear bit by bit.
             

Hi There.

              Housing is an issue that successive National governments have failed to address.The solution is really not that complicated.So it is good to see the new National led government has at long last acknowledged that housing affordability is a serious issue for struggling families to pay their rent or mortgages.
                Child poverty is a scar  New Zealand governments over the last number of years.So far all we have heard about is that the government intend to transfer thousands of state houses to social agencies like the Salvation Army and that they will sell more to the private sector.The selling of  state housing failed in the past to bring some stability to the rental market rents just increased and  the conditions of the house remained the same,there was little up keep of the sold properties.

               What is needed is not a smaller state housing entity,but a smarter one.An example could be switching from housing support to landlords,to a house building programme,we need social housing not social cleansing.So lets see what the John Key National led government can be serious about eradicating poverty,in the land of plenty.
             

Hi There.

             

The Missing Million.

                                 Now that the election results are in,it is to be expected that the rapacious media is writing the obituary of the Labour Party .They would do well to remember that a similar melt-down happened to the National Party,when its support base also collapsed under Jenny Shipley. The National Party hit the rocks and had three leaders,Gerry Brownlee,Bill English and Don Brash ,who came and went over a short period of time.

                                   I have no doubt that the Labour Party will again be in government,once it unites under leadership and turns the party into a serious political machine,representing the center-left.The big worry for all parties is the one million New Zealanders who did not vote,now that is a serious problem and needs to be addressed by all political parties.

                                   National are back, so we believe that HNZ will continue to be down sized and that the planned 500 state houses in the city will disappear, this will have a huge impact on those seeking affordable rental accommodation. These homes are needed despite HNZ stating that there is no market for these homes ,this is wrong and those making these statements don't live here and have no idea just how tight the affordable rental market is. HNZ no longer supports struggling families despite the spin that they help those most in need,it is just nonsense and they know it. A political decision has been made to sell state housing just like what happened in the 1990,s under the Bolger National government,the policey failed to deliver cheaper accommodation and did not offer the choice that was promised. We will be keeping an eye on the government and its housing policies.

YOUR  VOTE

                       This election will be tight,every vote,yes every vote will count.The present National led government has failed to acknowledge,let alone resolve the housing crisis.At present of the households that rent their homes,nearly a quarter 23% are paying 40%of their income in rent.In contrast only 5.6% of owner occupiers paid more than 40% of their income on housing costs.Between 2010 and mid 2013,rental costs increased by 12.1% whereas mortgage payments rose only 1.1%.This  crisis in affordable housing is ensuring that future generation's will inherit accommodation problems.

Growing poverty is an issue facing the country,but lets not call it poverty,lets call it what it really is-inequality.There is a feeling that the country is adrift and that affordable housing costs don't get the attention that it deserves. It should be noted that 70% of tenancy tribunal case's are concerned with rent arrears,so what does that tell us.There has to be a review of introducing some form of rent control,as the taxpayers cant afford to carry on subsidizing private landlord's to the tune of $1.3 billion every year and with the way things are at present this will rise considerably in years to come.

So make sure you turn out to vote and to vote for change there is a better way to provide affordable rental for all New Zealander's who require it.