Media Release
For immediate release

All candidates to face state housing advocates in Maraenui

Tu Tangata Maraenui, a community group formed last year in response to the emptying out of state houses in Maraenui, Napier, is holding a rally to question candidates in the Ikaroa-Rawhiti by-election on their party’s policies on state houses, on Tuesday 25 June at 5:30 pm at Pulse Ministries, in the Maraenui shopping centre.

Tu Tangata Maraenui’s chair, Chantelle Brown said that low-income families were suffering because of the government’s policy on social housing, which had removed many people from state house waiting lists, forcing them into unaffordable or overcrowded private rentals.

“We have perfectly habitable empty state houses standing side by side with private rentals that have two or more families in them,” Chantelle said.  “The government’s social housing policy has brought hardship and worry to many beneficiaries who deserve a decent home with income-related rents.

“Changes to eligibility criteria that were brought in in July 2011 managed to cut waiting lists to almost zero because many were made ineligible.  Those lucky enough to jump all the hoops they put up are only given three year tenancies which means a lot of insecurity for vulnerable families.

“Now we hear in the May budget that all existing tenants will be reviewed next year, which the government says will further remove another 3,000 from state houses and put everyone else in a very insecure position of not knowing how long they will have their house.

“Expecting social housing to replace state houses is unrealistic – we have no social housing providers here in Napier - and it shows the government abandoning its responsibility to support vulnerable families into affordable homes,” Chantelle said.

“We already know what the National Party believes is the answer to the housing crisis, and we reject it as a cop-out.  Now we want to hear from other parties standing in this by-election what they will do if they get into power next year.”

As many state house tenants are Maori, the policies of the parties vying for the Maori seat in Ikaroa-Rawhiti are extremely important, Chantelle said.

“A recent study showed that overall, one in 10 hospital admissions for infectious diseases are caused by overcrowded homes.  With Maori, the figure is one in five hospitalisations.  30 per cent of Maori children are living in overcrowded homes, with less than 10 per cent Pakeha children.

“We want the politicians in every party to show their concern for Maori families by building more, not fewer state houses to protect the next generation.”

Hone Harawira is amongst the politicians who will be speaking at the meeting, and a van of state housing advocates from Glen Innes is also expected to be there.

ENDS

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