Housing crisis to blame for people living in garages
Housing crisis, not Work and Income staff, to blame for people living in garages
The housing crisis and
continued inaction by the Government is to blame for people
in Auckland being forced to live in unapproved garages,
sheds and other unsustainable situations, the Public Service
Association says.
"Nobody should be forced to live in a property unfit for them and unable to meet their needs," PSA national secretary Glenn Barclay says.
"Work and Income staff are dedicated to helping make people’s lives better, but they can’t work miracles in the absence of proper housing.
"The housing crisis, particularly in Auckland, has been building for years due to Government inaction.
"Years of underfunding and understaffing have left Work and Income staff under immense pressure, without the capacity to give people all the support they need.
"The Government needs to step up, take responsibility and provide the necessary resourcing to social housing providers, Housing New Zealand, and Work and Income so they can make sure everybody has a legal, warm and dry roof over their head." said Mr Barclay.
ENDS