Christchurch Housing Summit

Wednesday May 9 Knox Church Hall 9 AM - 12PM

A Housing Summit, focusing on the rental housing crisis facing Christchurch, will be held this Wednesday, May 9th.

The Summit, to be held in the Knox Church Hall in Bealey Avenue on Wednesday morning from 9 am to 12 pm, will "focus on specific issues and specific solutions", says summit organiser, Cr. Glenn Livingstone. "We'll be using the power of the community to find ways of addressing the crisis", Livingstone says. "Those who work in the community know more than anyone what the specific issues are in relation to rental housing in Christchurch at the moment. Their insights and those of all stake-holders and providers will be critical in finding solutions to the housing shortage".

Cr. Livingstone says that, while some of the stake-holders and providers have already been meeting, "it was important to have a public meeting, as we all have a stake in this and the public is entitled to know what is going on and how they can find solutions together."

Prior to the September 2010 and February 2011 earthquakes, Christchurch had 1500 young people at any given time in unsafe and insecure housing. This number is likely to be higher, Livingstone says.

Other identifiable rental gaps include the provision of accommodation for many elderly men in the inner-city east, those sleeping in cars and families from the residential red and green/blue zones.

The format of the meeting will include both plenary and small-group sessions, "so that as many as possible will have an opportunity to participate", Livingstone says.

70 people have been invited, including representatives from Housing New Zealand, the City Council, the City Mission, the Salvation Army, the Red Cross, Church Social Service agencies, the Tenants Protection Association, the Council of Social Services, elected representatives, the Department of Building and Housing and CERA, representing approximately 45 different providers and stake-holders.

As this is a public event, any media representatives will be welcome to attend the Housing Summit, 9 AM-12 PM, Knox Church Hall , cnr. Bealey Avenue and Victoria Streets, Christchurch Wednesday May 9.

ENDS

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