Vision for social housing report a sign of times

Friday, 6 August 2010, 2:41 pm
Press Release: Community Housing Aotearoa

Vision for social housing report a signpost to the future of community housing sector in New Zealand

Community Housing Aotearoa, New Zealand’s peak body for NGO housing providers, has welcomed the report on the future of social housing released today by the Housing Shareholders’ Advisory Group appointed by the Government earlier this year.

“As stated at today’s press conference both the demand for and supply of housing for people in our communities with unmet housing needs has in many ways been a hidden problem. As noted today,
this problem will only get worse without some major reforms and public debate,” says David McCartney, Executive Officer of Community Housing Aotearoa (CHA).

“We recognise the high level of thinking that has gone into the report, which if thoroughly implemented, will see the housing landscape in New Zealand shift towards a greater emphasis on niche providers focused on high needs housing and an expansion in our sector.

“Over the next six weeks we will be working with our member community housing organisations to provide feedback to the Advisory Group on their recommendations.

“One of our first challenges will be to further clarify some of the new terms that have been introduced by the Advisory Group that are being attached to our sector for the first time, such as ‘cost based’ NGOs, ‘profit based’ NGOs and ‘third-party suppliers’.

“From today’s announcement it is apparent that the Advisory Group’s view is that the Housing New Zealand Corporation model for social housing has ‘served its time’ and that a ‘one stop shop’ approach to housing can’t be financially sustained.

“One of our concerns from comments made today and from our first reading of the business case for securing a new direction, is the premise that our sector will not necessarily be receiving any new investment of funds to prepare for the changes and period of transition that are being proposed.

“The expectation that NGO housing organisations can increase their share of the social housing sector to 20% in the space of five years will be a challenge, but it is a target that we view positively and that we will be doing our best to work together with other partners to achieve.”

ENDS

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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