Community Housing Aotearoa disappointed by Budget

Friday, 23 May 2008, 3:44 pm
Press Release: Community Housing Aotearoa

For immediate release: 23 May 2008

Community Housing Aotearoa disappointed by the Budget

Community Housing Aotearoa is disappointed by the "trying to please all" shown by the government in yesterday's budget.

Community Housing considers it a missed opportunity especially at a time when families and low wage earners are struggling with the cost of living.

Community Housing Aotearoa director Therese Quinlivan says the government has dropped the ball on what are the big issues affecting families today. "Families on low incomes who already can't meet their mortgage or rent payments are now struggling to pay basic food prices. I'm really pleased to see personal tax cuts and working families credits for low income families but there should have been a cut off point for higher earners."

Ms Quinlivan says too much focus was put on personal income tax cuts rather than the provision of services. "By cutting personal taxes for all there is now less money for the provision of services. To enable the government to reduce taxes, each government department has had to cut out some of their projects that would have provided services to the community."

Housing is a necessity for all citizens and while the government has released the Shared Equity Scheme last week, her concern is that housing is being overshadowed by tax cuts rather than developing services that many parts of the community need.

Community Housing Aotearoa is the umbrella body for 170 members nationwide.

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