Green light on policy shift a welcome sign

Friday, 10 December 2010, 10:13 am
Press Release: Community Housing Aotearoa

Media release - 9 December 2010

Green light on policy shift a welcome sign of first steps to diversify social housing supply

Today's confirmation that the Government will proceed with key changes to the future direction of social housing now opens the door to a much closer focus on how more social housing will be developed in New Zealand, said Community Housing Aotearoa, New Zealand's peak body for community housing organisations.

"As flagged by the Housing Shareholders Advisory Group convened by Housing Minister Phil Heatley and by Treasury Minister Bill English earlier this year, the size and scope of social housing able to be supplied by community housing organisations has been under-developed in the past," said David McCartney, Executive Officer of Community Housing Aotearoa.

"From the perspective of community housing organisations we really welcome the recognition that more effort will be put into ways to address current constraints and challenges to their growth because growing the pool of affordable housing is essential.

"Community Housing Aotearoa commends the Housing Shareholders Advisory Group for their work in highlighting the unlocked potential in the third sector of housing. We trust that further detail on which of their recommendations have been supported by Cabinet will also be released so that we can get a clearer sense of what has been agreed to and what hasn't," said David McCartney, Executive Officer of Community Housing Aotearoa.

"It is encouraging to see that the emphasis of Housing Minister Phil Heatley's statement today has highlighted the successful way that some of the 120 plus members of Community Housing Aotearoa already operate - including the NZ Housing Foundation, Salvation Army, Comcare Trust, IHC (Accessible Properties) and VisionWest Community Trust. This is in line with the case for growing community housing that we have been making for several years, and with observations that more innovative funding could deliver much, much more housing than currently seen.

"The icing on the cake today has also been the fact that the Human Rights Commission has released only its second Human Rights in New Zealand report in which there is a priority call for action to increase the supply and diversity of social housing.

"For its part Community Housing Aotearoa looks forward to working with officials at both the Department of Building and Housing and Housing New Zealand to build on the momentum that is finally now emerging. In equal measure we realize that most New Zealanders still equate social housing only with State Housing so we will definitely continue to put a major effort into the 2011 community housing awareness campaign we announced last month".

ends

© Scoop Media

Community Housing Aotearoa

Nga Wharerau o Aotearoa

Community Housing Aotearoa is the peak body for New Zealand's community housing sector. Our 110 members build and manage affordable and social housing.

Our Vision is to make sure every New Zealander is well-housed in a warm, safe, dry and affordable home. This is a basic human right.

We work to support the growth and development of community housing providers to enable them to provide affordable and social housing.

We want to demonstrate that community housing is a critical element alongside private and government owned housing. No one can do it alone.

Community Housing Aotearoa aims to:

1. be the voice of the community housing sector
2. build capacity and foster collaboration
3. promote best practice in housing policy
4. champion quality and excellence.

Contact Community Housing Aotearoa

• Website - communityhousing.org.nz/
• Our Place - Learn how we think this can be achieved
• Phone - +64 4 385 8722
• About us - Our 2021 annual report is online here
• Email - support@communityhousing.org.nz
• Link - Members directory
• Physical Address - Level 11, Ranchhod Tower, 39 The Terrace/102-112 Lambton Quay, Wellington