Latest news with #CommunityHousingAotearoa
NZ Herald
28-07-2025
- General
- NZ Herald
Sharp rise in homelessness prompts Salvation Army call for action
The Salvation Army sees a need for a co-ordinated response to the growing scale and severity of homelessness in Aotearoa. Photo / 123 rf Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech. The Salvation Army sees a need for a co-ordinated response to the growing scale and severity of homelessness in Aotearoa. Photo / 123 rf There has been a sharp rise in homelessness with one in every 1000 Kiwis currently without shelter, new national data shows. The Salvation Army is calling for a co-ordinated response to the growing scale and severity of homelessness after an increase across nearly all communities, with no area reporting a decline. The new findings are drawn from the latest survey conducted under the National Homelessness Data Project. This project is a collaborative initiative involving housing and homelessness organisations, including The Salvation Army, Community Housing Aotearoa, Housing First Auckland Backbone, Kāhui Tū Kaha, Christchurch Methodist Mission, DCM and Wellington City Mission. The group acknowledged the Government's work to date around housing and its increased engagement with the issue after the release of the Housing and Urban Development 'Homelessness Insights Report'.
RNZ News
28-07-2025
- General
- 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
01-07-2025
- Business
- RNZ News
Kainga Ora cuts new developments as the housing crisis escalates
In Onehunga, Auckland, the site where a 186-apartment Kainga Ora development was planned now sits empty, after tenants of the previous building moved out and the new project was cancelled. Photo: Sharon Brettkelly New Zealand is short tens of thousands of social houses, and billions of dollars to fund them, while the numbers of "stressed" renters is growing, but a community housing leader says we can still fix the crisis that has dragged on for decades. "I actually believe as New Zealanders if we put our minds to this and we make some different choices we can absolutely solve this housing crisis," says Community Housing Aotearoa chief executive Paul Gilberd. But it will not happen overnight, and as demand grows he warns that overall investment in new social housing is falling. The "magic thing" that unlocks the ability to build the houses at scale is government funding of the community housing sector, he says. "If the government is willing to turn that dial up, we can as a sector walking alongside Kainga Ora, deliver the things that I think New Zealanders want in terms of the vision of the sort of country they live in," he says. Gilberd has worked in the sector for decades and in his current role oversees 100 community housing providers (CHPs) that run more than 30,000 homes. He says Kainga Ora's announcement last month that it has cancelled plans to build nearly 3500 new homes around the country and is capping the numbers of state-owned homes it provides at 78,000 is a reflection of a government that sees itself in a diminished role in commissioning new affordable housing, while backing the CHPs to fill the gap. He is telling his members to find partners such as church groups and local councils to deliver as many affordable homes as they can. The new Community Housing Funding Agency is a step in the right direction to finding the tens of billions of dollars needed to build more than 20,000 extra homes, he says, but it falls short of similar agencies in other countries which have the gold standard full government guarantee. "Then it becomes a gamechanger because it reduces the risk to investors," he says. Jeremy, a neighbour of a cancelled Kainga Ora project in Onehunga, Auckland tells The Detail of the saga of the on/off development that went on for years before the final announcement last month. Jeremy and his wife bought their house in 2018, believing that they would be living next door to architecturally designed, state-owned apartments. "It's been an empty site for over a year now and that peace is lovely for us right now but it's not a long-term solution. The thing that I wonder about is how much of this development next door is now going to be completely piecemeal," he says. For Newsroom Pro managing editor Jonathan Milne, the development on Jordan Avenue is close to his heart, as an Onehunga resident and former local school board member. He says that the tenants who were moved out of the development for the rebuild were promised first dibs on the new apartments. When he tried to track down families who had lived there before it was demolished, they were nowhere to be found. "I spent days trying to find former tenants of Jordan Ave, I couldn't find any. No one knows where they've gone, no one knows their phone numbers anymore, they've just disappeared." He says the dramatic change at Kainga Ora is difficult for the tenants. "In all this discussion we've heard a lot about dollars and hectares and numbers of residences and square metres, but we haven't heard from the voices of the tenants." Check out how to listen to and follow The Detail here . You can also stay up-to-date by liking us on Facebook or following us on Twitter .
Scoop
15-05-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Community Housing Aotearoa Says Unlocking Housing Affordability Is A Key To Reducing Homelessness
Press Release – Community Housing Aotearoa Unlocking affordability is a key to providing secure, affordable, long-term rental homes that support people to thrive. It is also a necessary step towards reducing the number of people and children in emergency housing and addressing New Zealands … 'Focussing on community and tenant outcomes is key to ensuring government investment improves lives so we are heartened to hear Hon. Nicola Willis announce the new $190 million Social Investment Fund to support people in need.' said Paul Gilberd, Chief Executive, Community Housing Aotearoa. 'We acknowledge the three groups included in today's announcement and the awhina, support and services they provide to their communities: He Piringa Whare and Te Tihi o Ruahine alliance, AUTISM New Zealand and Ka Puta Ka Ora Emerge Aotearoa's Youth Services. We are also encouraged by the Minister of Finance's statement that she wants to see less people in Emergency housing as a key measure of a desired outcome. We believe this can be achieved by providing access to more affordable, adequate rental housing. Unlocking affordability is a key to providing secure, affordable, long-term rental homes that support people to thrive. It is also a necessary step towards reducing the number of people and children in emergency housing and addressing New Zealand's high and rising levels of homelessness. Community housing providers already offer a range of affordable housing options to match community needs. As a sector, we focus on achieving long-term, sustainable outcomes for residents and communities. As such, we're more than a landlord. We have a duty to ensure our homes are managed and protected for the long-term and wider social good and achieve our vision of ensuring all New Zealanders well-housed for generations to come.' About Community Housing Aotearoa Community Housing Aotearoa (CHA) is a peak body for the community housing sector. To achieve our vision of 'all New Zealanders well-housed', we have a strategic focus on supporting a responsive housing system underpinned by Te Tiriti o Waitangi and the Right to a Decent Home. Our member organisations provide homes for nearly 30,000 people nationally across 26,000 homes, and our partner members include developers, consultants and local councils. Community Housing Organisations are primarily not for dividend entities that develop, own and/or manage social and affordable housing stock, with a variety of tenure offerings. CHA is a proud Tangata Tiriti organisation and works closely with national Māori housing advocate Te Matapihi, which also represents iwi-based and Māori community housing organisations. We believe all New Zealanders have the right to a decent home. A home that is affordable, secure, habitable, is near schools, transport and services and is culturally adequate.
Scoop
15-05-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Community Housing Aotearoa Says Unlocking Housing Affordability Is A Key To Reducing Homelessness
'Focussing on community and tenant outcomes is key to ensuring government investment improves lives so we are heartened to hear Hon. Nicola Willis announce the new $190 million Social Investment Fund to support people in need.' said Paul Gilberd, Chief Executive, Community Housing Aotearoa. 'We acknowledge the three groups included in today's announcement and the awhina, support and services they provide to their communities: He Piringa Whare and Te Tihi o Ruahine alliance, AUTISM New Zealand and Ka Puta Ka Ora Emerge Aotearoa's Youth Services. We are also encouraged by the Minister of Finance's statement that she wants to see less people in Emergency housing as a key measure of a desired outcome. We believe this can be achieved by providing access to more affordable, adequate rental housing. Unlocking affordability is a key to providing secure, affordable, long-term rental homes that support people to thrive. It is also a necessary step towards reducing the number of people and children in emergency housing and addressing New Zealand's high and rising levels of homelessness. Community housing providers already offer a range of affordable housing options to match community needs. As a sector, we focus on achieving long-term, sustainable outcomes for residents and communities. As such, we're more than a landlord. We have a duty to ensure our homes are managed and protected for the long-term and wider social good and achieve our vision of ensuring all New Zealanders well-housed for generations to come.' About Community Housing Aotearoa Community Housing Aotearoa (CHA) is a peak body for the community housing sector. To achieve our vision of 'all New Zealanders well-housed', we have a strategic focus on supporting a responsive housing system underpinned by Te Tiriti o Waitangi and the Right to a Decent Home. Our member organisations provide homes for nearly 30,000 people nationally across 26,000 homes, and our partner members include developers, consultants and local councils. Community Housing Organisations are primarily not for dividend entities that develop, own and/or manage social and affordable housing stock, with a variety of tenure offerings. CHA is a proud Tangata Tiriti organisation and works closely with national Māori housing advocate Te Matapihi, which also represents iwi-based and Māori community housing organisations. We believe all New Zealanders have the right to a decent home. A home that is affordable, secure, habitable, is near schools, transport and services and is culturally adequate. 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.
