12 May 2019
Government action on homelessness an encouraging step
The Green Party welcomes today’s announcement that our Government will pay for an extra 1044 places in the Housing First
programme, Co-Leader Marama Davidson said today.
“We know that homelessness is getting worse. Housing is a basic right. It is crucial to our health and wellbeing, and
our ability to participate in a community.”
“Housing First helps the chronically homeless get into a home, and then stay there, with focused support for whatever is
going on in that person’s life. This can be transformational for those individuals and families.”
“We need to support the organisations who are on the front line every day, and who understand the needs of the people
who are struggling with homelessness in their communities.”
“Over 70% of Housing First participants are Māori and Pasifika. The Greens also know that supporting Māori and Pasifika
led organisations is crucial in this space.”
“I saw Housing First’s service first hand when I was able to support a man from my own community. Housing First were
there to sit down with us, ask him what was going on with his life and what support was needed, and then got him into a
home. When people fall through the cracks, it often falls on community organisations like this to show government how it
is done. It’s great we are getting on behind them today,” Marama Davidson said.