Shining a Spotlight on the Hidden Homeless

Auckland’s Housing Call to Action group has chosen to highlight the plight of “the hidden homeless” during Spotlight on Housing week from 5 - 10 October 2015.

The week comprises a series of events, activities and competitions with the aim of raising the profile of housing and homelessness as important issues for New Zealand society.

The hidden homeless are those people living in cars, in garages, sleep-outs, couch surfing or in overcrowded homes, often with several families sharing a dwelling. Recent census data suggest there could be up to 20,000 people living in these conditions currently in Auckland.

Housing Call to Action spokesperson Lee Hickey says “housing is a human right and homelessness in its many forms is becoming a huge problem in West Auckland, with the cost of rent and home ownership beyond the financial means of many families. With the pressure on state housing, and reduced numbers of houses available for people in need, this forces people to live in inadequate situations, with all the social and health problems that overcrowding and unsuitable accommodation causes as a result. The cost to society of not housing people in decent homes that are warm, dry and affordable will continue to increase with major social and health issues if we do not make it a priority to provide good housing for everyone”.

Events and activities for Spotlight on Housing week can be found on the Facebook page www.facebook.com/Housingcalltoaction and start from next week. These include story gathering displays in public libraries around West Auckland where people can anonymously share information about the situation in which they are living and what housing means for them.

ENDS

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