United Future proposes three point plan for Housing

At tonight’s Housing Forum, organised by the Anglican and Catholic churches, United Future proposed three common sense policies to help deal with the Housing shortage:

1. A National Housing Summit involving local and central government, the construction industry, social services, tenants, landlords and banks to co-ordinate a nationwide response to the housing shortage;

2. A Rent to Buy scheme which would set aside some of the new houses being built by the government to be allocated for rental housing and for part of the rent to go towards a deposit for ownership of the home.

3. Energy efficiency ratings for rental houses, which include factors such as insulation and solar water heating. These ratings can then be used by tenants prior to signing a rental agreement.

The Forum also heard the stories of people who faced significant housing challenges. The three point plan was presented as part of a response to those stories.

“There is injustice when people are forced to sleep in cars or to live in cold, damp conditions – and that’s not OK. There is injustice when a mother has to choose between buying food and paying the rent – and that’s not OK. And there is injustice when home ownership declines much faster for Maori and Pacific peoples compared to the general population – and that’s not ok” said Roger Ellis, United Future candidate for Mana.

“United Future is about making New Zealand the best place in the world in which to live, work and raise a family. A key part of that vision is ensuring that every New Zealander has somewhere warm, dry and safe that they can call home” said Mr Ellis.

United Future is New Zealand’s centrist party. More information can be found at our website www.unitedfuture.org.nz

ENDS

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