Homelessness in Auckland has risen by 53% in 4 months - that’s 653 people living in cars, on streets and in parks.
The city’s emergency housing numbers have fallen by about 650 under National too - now at record lows.
Housing First Auckland is on the frontlines: There is “more and more homelessness every day” and they are struggling with this level of crisis - resource and money wise.
Auckland's Council is demanding answers too.
It’s written to central government to express "deep concern" and request specifics on where people who leave emergency housing are headed.
In Wellington, emergency housing numbers are at record lows, after Louise Upston directed MSD to tighten eligibility and access to emergency housing.
But homelessness rates have been skryocketing in parallel - up year on year 40% in the capital.
According to RNZ’s Lillian Hanley, the emergency and social support housing situation is dire for advocates and those in its web -
Some advocates say navigating the system is like "smashing your head against a brick wall", and the way it is designed, "it's almost a trap".
Minister Potaka has been warned - advocates told him last year that teen parents are now sleeping in cars with babies and infants.
But he and National have been adamant their plans are successful.
Today, Luxon’s answers to media about the stark rise in homelessness shows how ill equipped he and National are in dealing with social issues:
Luxon:
"I haven't in recent weeks or recent months [visited homeless shelters], but the reality is I'm just saying to you I'm proud of the work we're doing. We're doing a great job.”
He then attacked the media.
The other under-reported - but extremely significant point - is Chris Bishop’s “turnaround” housing plan was - for all intensive purposes - a privatisation and killing of state housing plan.
Bishop plans to increase state houses by only about 2650 (which uses current funding to complete).
His 1500 new homes and 400 retrofits Kāinga Ora “turnaround” plan is offset by 800 sales and 700 demolitions.
So that’s 0 - and they are capping state homes at around 78,000 from 2026 (~3,000 more than now)
Last year Bishop admitted there were ~24,000 desperate people on the social housing wait list.
How does National think this will all add up?
Luxon said he had unlimited funds for corrections (prisons) but is this the right answer?
Graph
Illustrate what
said on Q&A last year private debt is a significant liability in our economy while people such Chris Bishop, David Seymour and Simeon Brown push for the private sector to do more.Meanwhile, the economy continues to flail under National - who appear to be advised by NZ Initiative fellows.
Kāinga Ora Memory:
Remember when Sir Bill English was paid $500,000 from the Emergency Housing Fund to run a hatchet job on Kainga Ora "with no involvement from KO"?
I do.
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