Celebrating one hundred years of Rural Women New Zealand
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RNZ News
5 hours ago
- RNZ News
One in every 1000 New Zealanders without shelter
File photo. Photo: forestpath/123RF New data released today by the Salvation Army shows 1 in every 1000 people in New Zealand is currently without shelter. The Salvation Army said other alarming trends included 14 in every 1000 people live in housing considered uninhabitable and that 57,000 women are experiencing homelessness. They said homelessness has increased across nearly all communities, with no area showing a decline. Housing has also become the second most pressing concern for young adults aged 18-34 while reported crimes against people who are homeless have increased by 81 percent. The survey involved frontline housing and homelessness organisations across the country, including The Salvation Army, Community Housing Aotearoa, and Housing First Auckland Backbone, Kāhui Tū Kaha, Christchurch Methodist Mission, DCM and Wellington City Mission. The data also included information obtained through OIA requests and other sources. Lieutenant Colonel Ian Hutson, mission officer for The Salvation Army Social Policy and Parliamentary Unit said while the group acknowledges the government's increased engagement with the issue around housing, a coordinated response was desperately needed. "We all need to be working towards having enough affordable housing for everyone to live with dignity, in a warm, safe, dry home. "Yet, what we are seeing across our cities and regions is the impact of our housing deficit: an unparalleled disruption that is affecting our most vulnerable people and whānau." The Salvation Army said difficulty in accessing emergency housing had added to the issue with a 386 percent rise since August 2024 in Ministry of Social Development (MSD) rejections citing that people had 'contributed to their own homelessness'. Hutson called on MSD to be more flexible and remove barriers to emergency housing. "These findings confirm what our frontline teams are seeing every day - more people facing housing stress, and many struggling to access the support they need. An immediate response from government is required to address immediate needs, as well as a longer-term strategy. At a very minimum, we need to ensure that all people who are experiencing homelessness can access a home, facilities and support. "There are clear opportunities for constructive change. By retaining and strengthening access to emergency housing, investing in proven short, medium and long-term support services, and, with government funding for more coordinated and consistent data collection we can better support people in need and work towards permanent solutions." The Salvation Army said following the survey they're urging the government to "increase the availability of good quality housing, facilities and support services across the country." "Review restrictions and criteria for emergency housing grants, allowing frontline discretion to avoid pushing people into homelessness. "Invest in evidence-based proven housing programmes that address both short-term need and long-term stability - including mental health, addiction, and social support services. "Fund and support regular national data collection through community-led research initiatives. "Commit to a long term, bipartisan national housing and homelessness strategy, grounded in Te Tiriti principles and supported by sustained funding." Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
6 hours ago
- RNZ News
The willows and the wetland
In November 2024 Project Tongariro turned 40 years old. It started as a living memorial in response to a helicopter crash tragedy on Mount Ruapehu, with the mission to care for Tongariro National Park and its surrounds. Four decades on Project Tongariro continues to support conservation, education and engagement activities in the region. Claire Concannon joins the team to learn about battling willow to restore a wetland, and community efforts to replant a local reserve. To embed this content on your own webpage, cut and paste the following: See terms of use.
RNZ News
15 hours ago
- RNZ News
More women living without shelter in Aotearoa
Lisamaree Peerdemen has just got her first home after 18 months of living under a bridge, and most of her life on the streets. Photo: RNZ / Amy Williams There is a disproportionately high rate of women without shelter in New Zealand, particularly in Auckland, people working with the homeless are warning. Auckland Council's Community Committee will meet to discuss the region's homelessness crisis tomorrow , as well as a report showing the number of homeless people rose to 809 in May this year - a 90 percent increase since last September. Lisamaree Peerdeman moved into state housing this month after living under a bridge in Auckland's city centre on-and-off most of her life. "I've just got my first home after 18 months of living under the bridge. I had my four bedroom household lot under there, set up like a house just no walls, but I could light my fire and that's what made me feel like home." Having been homeless for decades, she has noticed there are now more women sleeping rough and it concerns her. "Terrible increase in wahine and they're all old school and if they're not old school, they're young. They're beaten children, accused and abused. Their home environment behind the doors is not good." She keeps an eye out for the young women on the street and makes sure outreach teams working with the city's homeless know they are there. Peerdeman pops into Manaaki Tangata most days - it is a wellbeing space in downtown Auckland that the Māori wardens run under the stewardship of Matarora Smith. There is a washing machine and shower and the wardens provide plates of hot food - something Peerdeman said helped her budget now that she was paying rent. "I'm $120 a week now after I pay my rent, power and gas and if it wasn't for nanny Matarora and the women's yard I'd be really in trouble. Not really though, because I'm the one that will tell you which bins to go to to get your kai." The wellbeing space is among the initiatives funded by Auckland Council - a snippet of its half a million dollar annual spend on groups supporting the city's homeless. Research by the Coalition to End Women's Homelessness late last year found 46 percent of women suffering homelessness in New Zealand live in Auckland. Auckland City Missioner Helen Robinson will talk to tomorrow's committee meeting as a representative of the coalition. Auckland councillor Angela Dalton chairs the community Committee, which on Tuesday will discuss the latest numbers showing a 90 percent increase in those sleeping rough in Auckland since September last year. This followed the release of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development's latest Homelessness Insights Report , which showed some of the 14 percent of people leaving emergency housing may be homeless. "There will be an inequity in the money that is being invested at this point in time so I would like to know what is it that council can contribute to, that will make a real change or a shift for women who are struggling to find a safe place to live." Another woman who is homeless in Auckland, whom RNZ agreed not to name, said the street is no place for women. She said the car she was living in was stolen a few weeks ago and she does not feel safe sleeping rough. "I feel so sorry for the females because there is no place for the females in this, the males can look after themselves - we can't, we're vulnerable. I've been through 17 years of domestic violence and I'm still going." New to Auckland, she said there are women on the street who need help. "I've only met a few women on the street I don't know how many women there are on the street but the women I have seen on the street they seem to like it, they know what they want. It's up to them if they want the help, but I know there are women out there that need the help." Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
