6,400 more public housing places for New Zealanders by 2022
10 September 2018
NZ Government:
The Government is today announcing locations
around
New Zealand for 6,400 new
public housing places being built over the
next four years which were funded as part of Budget 2018.
Housing and Urban Development Minister Phil Twyford has released the
2018 Public Housing Plan which outlines the number and size of the homes
which will be part of the biggest public
housing programme in more than
a decade.
The plan will see 3,550 new public housing places being made available
in
Auckland with thousands of much-needed new state houses in regions
around New Zealand. This has been fully funded through a combination of:
-
$234.4 million in operating funding from Budget 2018,
-
$2.9 billion of Housing New Zealand borrowing from third parties, with a further $900 million from its operations.
Phil Twyford said the national
housing crisis had hurt too many New Zealanders: “From those locked out
of the Kiwi dream of home ownership, to those left homeless and those
suffering the health effects of poor quality housing.
“The single most important thing the Government can do to solve the
housing crisis is to build more affordable homes, and the best way to
tackle homelessness is to build more public housing.
“Nationwide, there are currently 67,228 public housing places, giving
families and individuals warm, dry, and safe homes, for as long as they
need it.
“Public housing is an essential part of helping families and vulnerable
people with one of their most basic needs, housing. The waiting list for
a state house – now at 8704 – shows the extent of the suffering in our
communities.” Phil Twyford said.
Over the next four years the Ministry of Social Development will work
with Housing New Zealand and community housing providers to build as
many additional public housing places as possible, within available
funding – this may mean that the number of additional public housing
places built by 2022 is more than 6,400.
“It will take bold action to fix the housing crisis created over the
past decade and the Public Housing Plan is another step in the right
direction. Demand for housing changes all the time, and we’ll constantly
monitor what’s needed across the country and will continue to invest in
places where New Zealanders need public housing the most.” said Phil
Twyford.
--ENDS--
Source: New Zealand Government - www.beehive.govt.nz
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