Stimulus needed for Community Housing

Thursday, 5 February 2009, 3:19 pm
Press Release: Community Housing Aotearoa

Media Release

COMMUNITY HOUSING AOTEAROA
Thursday, 5 February 2009

How close will ‘Build New Zealand’ come to Australia’s ‘Nation Building and Jobs Plan’?

The allocation this week by the Australian government of $6.4 billion to build 20,000 social housing units begs the question of whether the National Government in New Zealand is prepared to take similar steps on a smaller scale to boost the housing sector here says Community Housing Aotearoa, an umbrella group for not-for-profit housing providers and housing trusts.

“When Prime Minister John Key and his Ministers roll out the measures that have been labeled as ‘Build New Zealand’, the community housing sector is hopeful that the Australian example will be followed,” says Community Housing Aotearoa Executive Director, Thérèse Quinlivan.

“Across the Tasman the boost given to social housing this week has been applauded by State governments, who have stated that the investment being made will contribute to helping people who need most help in the years to come, as well as supporting the sustainability of the building industry and the health of the wider economy”.

“Here in New Zealand, Community Housing Aotearoa has been working on its own Strategy to boost our sector, which we have called ‘Housing Our Communities’”.

“We are looking forward to seeing more specific measures rolled out to stimulate new housing projects of the kind that our member organisations could be called on to lead and that could sit with our future Strategy. We are also looking forward to more recognition that a serious injection of funding will support job creation and increase the supply of affordable housing in areas such as the rental market”.

“Another example that has been set in Australia is the Summit on the Impact of the Global Financial Crisis on Social Services that was held in November,” says Thérèse Quinlivan.

“That particular Summit – which brought together Anglicare Australia, Catholic Social Services, UnitingCare and the Salvation Army – made some excellent recommendations such as the call for affordable public housing to be given priority in infrastructure programs, and through projects such as retrofitting low income households with more energy efficient insulation, heating and hot water systems”.

“Our challenge to the National Government on measures for social housing is that if it’s good enough for Australia, it’s good enough for New Zealand”.

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