Communities struggling to deal with the effects of the COVID-19 lockdown are the subject of a new study by the Salvation Army. The study reports three major areas of concern seriously impacting New Zealand communities, a lack of mental health support, insecure housing and inadequate incomes. These areas of concern are forcing people to look Read more
A trickle of rough sleepers returning to Auckland streets is not a sign of rising homelessness, NGOs say. However, they are bracing for a second wave of homelessness in the city as the recession starts to bite. Read more
Community housing providers are calling on the Government to support both the homeless and the construction sector with permanent housing for the thousands of homeless. Bernie Smith, chief executive of Monte Cecilia Housing Trust, says the Government had spent massive amounts on getting people into emergency housing or motels before the Covid-19 crisis. Read more
New Zealand’s housing problem is a human rights crisis of significant proportions, says a United Nations expert. United Nations Special Rapporteur on the right to housing Leilani Farha who has been visiting New Zealand, has issued a statement about her findings. She said a “more ambitious, innovative and courageous approach” is necessary to solve the Read more
A small crowd gathered, Wednesday, outside the City Mission, Newtown, to welcome the first Orange Sky van to Wellington. The custom-built-van is fitted with a shower, two washing machines and a clothes dryer, and open to use for anyone living without these necessities. Kris F’afoi, the associate minister for housing, and local member of parliament Read more
Beggars have been branded “pretty evil” organised criminals by the head of an upscale Auckland retail district’s business association. But a senior police officer has rejected Mark Knoff-Thomas’ claim, saying there was no evidence to support his assertion that beggars were connected to organised crime. Read more
Ian Cassels, a well known Wellington property developer, has pledged to set aside $10,000 for charity from the profit of every high-end home he sells. Houses and apartments sold for over $800,000 would generate a donation to Wellington City Mission. The money will come from developments in the pipeline like Erskine College, inner-city apartments, and Read more
Rotorua has the second-highest number of homeless people in New Zealand. Only Auckland has more. In 2017 Tiny Deane decided to do something about it. Everyone told him he wouldn’t be able to. But he was not put off. He and his wife Lynley sold their rental property and remortgaged their family home to establish the Read more
At least 15,000 Syrian children will be at risk of homelessness if the Lebanese government goes ahead with the planned demolition of “semi-permanent structures” built by refugees in eastern Lebanon, aid agencies warned on Tuesday. Save the Children, World Vision and Terre des Hommes Foundation said in a joint statement the government made a decision Read more
A church in Gisborne is tackling its local housing shortage. It is the driving force behind a plan to build module eco homes for families in need. The Ahuru Mowai Housing Project has the twofold aim of increasing ownership of energy-efficient homes and boosting employment. Ahuru Mowai plans to build seven module homes in Ida Read more