News release from Green Party
The Green Party says the Government is not doing enough to stop homelessness, following revelations that a Wellington family with four children has been homeless for months, despite being categorised as being ?at risk? and in need of immediate housing.
Campbell Live last night highlighted the plight of the family who have been living out of a car for three months, despite being categorised as Priority A by Housing New Zealand, those in most urgent need.
According to Housing New Zealand, there are 66 other families in the Hutt South/Wellington region who are rated Priority A and 871 in total across the country who are waiting to be placed in a home.
?I worry that many families and hundreds of children could be living in really dire environments while waiting for a home,? said Green Party housing spokespeson Holly Walker.
?The National Government?s inaction is leading to homelessness amongst New Zealanders who would normally be safe and secure in a home.
?A warm dry home to grow up in should be a basic right for all New Zealanders. The Government needs to be doing more to ensure this basic right is met.
?The Government has enacted changes at Housing New Zealand that were supposed to move services to those most in need. This case shows that those changes have failed.
?I made enquiries on behalf of this family and was told they have been on the top of Housing New Zealand?s waiting list since September 11. They should have been housed by now.
?No one should have to live out of their car for over a month while Housing New Zealand does little to nothing to get them into a new home.
?The family tell me they first contacted Housing New Zealand at least a month before they even made it on to the Priority A list. They say they have only managed to reach their case manager once through the corporation?s help line and have no idea when they will be housed.?
?These families are bearing the brunt of the Government?s failure to provide adequate emergency housing and a guarantee that existing housing is safe and healthy to live in.
?The Government needs to build more state homes, and guarantee minimum standards for the rental homes that do exist.
?The Green Party has drafted a Bill that would require all rental homes to meet minimum standards and we will do more work on it to provide even more protections for tenants.
?New Zealand should be a great place to grow up. It is a national shame that we have hundreds of children who are homeless in this country.?
The Campbell Live report on the homeless Wellington family
Source: http://wellington.scoop.co.nz/?p=49508
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