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World Refugee Day an occasion to support message of hope
World Refugee Day an occasion to support message of
hope
Provision of a wide range of housing options for refugees resettling in New Zealand can be regarded as one of the most visible signs of the message of hope that World Refugee Day (Monday 20th June) promotes this and every year, say Community Housing Aotearoa and Refugee Services.
David McCartney of Community Housing Aotearoa says that community housing providers such as Habitat for Humanity in Nelson, did a great job in 2010 in opening new doorways for refugees.
"In line with the Human Rights Commission report last year and our own 'Doorways to Community Housing' campaign, Community Housing Aotearoa is committed to doing its bit to help increase the supply and diversity of housing options that are available for everyone living in New Zealand.
"Community housing organisations and local housing trusts help create and provide a wider range of housing options that are of interest to Refugee Services who have been proactively seeking to strengthen connections with our sector. In turn we look forward to working more closely with Refugee Services in the future, whenever and however we can," says David McCartney
"This is a good time to thank Housing New Zealand, along with the wider range of housing organisations and private sector landlords in New Zealand for the part they all play in providing housing options for refugee resettlement," says Heather Hayden, Chief Executive of Refugee Services.
"Having a range of housing options makes a world of difference for each of the families or individuals who set up homes with the able assistance of our networks of volunteer support workers, who also assist them to make connections within their local community.
"For people who have been deprived of their homes in the past, moving into a house they can call their own, a new place to call home, carries a real message of hope," says Heather Hayden.
ENDS
Background
Under the government's annual Refugee Quota Programme New Zealand currently accepts up to 750 refugees each year. It is set each year by Cabinet on the advice of the Minister of Immigration and relevant Government departments.
The UN Higher Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) was set up in 1951 to help the estimated 1 million people still uprooted after World War II to return home. The latest figures available show that the number of refugees of concern to UNHCR stood at 10.4 million refugees at the beginning of 2011, down slightly from a year earlier. A further 4.7 million registered refugees are looked after in some 60 camps in the Middle East.
Refugees of concern to UNHCR are spread around the world, with more than half in Asia and some 20 percent in Africa. They live in widely varying conditions, from well-established camps and collective centres to makeshift shelters or living in the open. More than half of all refugees of concern to UNHCR live in urban areas. They all face three possible solutions: repatriation; local integration or resettlement.
ends
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:
- be the voice of the community housing sector
- build capacity and foster collaboration
- promote best practice in housing policy
- champion quality and excellence.
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