Housing is not our only issue, say Aucklanders

May 4, 2018

Housing is not our only issue, say Aucklanders

Aucklanders are divided on the Government's newest announcement. Photo: Imogen Wells.

The Government’s first pre-budget announcement has been made, with Housing Minister Phil Twyford announcing a $100 million investment into tackling homelessness.

Mr Twyford said $37m would be allocated to increasing the country’s housing supply over winter and the remaining $63.4m will be spent over the next four years to expand and sustain the country’s Housing First programme.

“We’re pulling out all the stops to support people in need,” said Mr Twyford, promising that by the end of winter there would be at least 1500 additional public and Housing First homes.

The Housing Minister is urging anyone who needs help with housing this winter to contact Work and Income.

“No one needs to live in a car this winter,” Mr Twyford said.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern echoed Mr Twyford’s advice at the announcement, with a message to social services.

"We are telling our social services, ‘When people come with need, be flexible.  Help them meet their needs. Our support network is there for a reason, so help them’."

Response from members of the Auckland public spoken to by TWN was mixed. Holistic practitioner Harmony Brooks says the issue is more than just about being homeless.

“I’m also thinking about the mental health system as well. It’s not just about homelessness that this money should be injected into. It should be the actual wellbeing of the individual so that we don’t get them into situations of homelessness.

“They should look behind [mental health] and the numbers and the figures and look at the individual as opposed to just $100 million over to homelessness.”

"Ex-con man" Tauera Roberts says today’s announcement is nothing new.

“We’ve been hearing that for about three or four years. There are houses that were pulled down a few years ago and the places are still empty.”

Mr Roberts says $100 million should be enough to tackle the country’s homeless issue, but only if the Government follows through with its promise.

“I think if they're sincere, then it’s more than enough. But it’s the sincerity that I worry about.”

National’s social housing spokesperson Simon O’Connor says the Government continues to overpromise, underdeliver and imitate the previous government's support.

“At the end of last year we were spending over $6 million every day helping 310,000 New Zealanders with their housing and accommodation costs. His $100 million announcement today is a third of the size of National’s package.”

Homelessness has been a nationwide issue for a number of years, with Labour previously accusing the National Government of denying the crisis.

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