CHA welcomes fast-tracking of funding into emergency housing
Community Housing Aotearoa is applauding the Government’s move to fast-track much needed funding into emergency housing.
However, CHA says the Government now needs to complete the jigsaw by finalising a plan to deliver the needed 15,000
permanent social and affordable homes so people have somewhere to go once their emergency is resolved.
CHA, which represents community housing providers throughout New Zealand, is responding to the Government’s quick
delivery of funding to respond to growing needs for emergency housing.
The process allows for a fast-track approval of $1.9 million to support 17 current providers. Proposals from new
providers or expansions to existing programmes are running a slightly longer process, but will still be eligible for
funding.
“This shows the Government can act quickly and fairly. It allows these organisations to maintain their focus on families
in need and not on lengthy proposal writing to document what the Government already has evidence of what they can
deliver.”
However he says while it will go a long way to meet urgent need, the reality remains this is just one part of the range
of housing that New Zealand needs.
“The real gain for families will be when we see a long term sustainable housing solution. We want people to be able to
move from emergency housing into long-term housing that’s warm, safe and dry. We estimate at least 15,000 permanent
social and affordable new homes are required by 2020 to meet demand. Currently, the resources to deliver at this scale
are not forthcoming.”
Scott Figenshow says the Government's announcement of $1 billion to fund infrastructure for new housing begs for a
similarly scaled plan for new investment to deliver permanent social and affordable homes.
“This investment is necessary to prevent another Kiwi family from falling into homelessness. Prevention is always less
expensive than emergency responses after families have run out of alternatives and find themselves on the streets.”
“CHA is hopeful the Government and all parties will work together to heed the call for additional investment in both
emergency responses and adopt a bold plan to deliver more permanent social and affordable homes”, he says.
ENDS