Budget 2005: More assistance for housing, jobs and children

The Government announced a raft of measures in today's budget to help those waiting for a state house, the long-term jobless and at-risk families.

Housing Minister Steve Maharey said the Government would spend $134 million over the next four years to provide 1300 more houses for the needy.

The extra state houses would help reduce waiting lists and waiting times, particularly in areas of high demand, like Auckland. Mr Maharey said the extra homes would lift the number of new state houses to 3288 over four years.

The money also includes $10 million to complete resettlement of remaining disabled residents from the Kimberley Centre near Levin.

The spending links with previously announced programmes which give $22.6 million to improve substandard rural housing, $7.4 million to improve housing in deprived areas and $2.7 million to reduce overcrowding.

Mr Maharey also announced $21 million new funding over four years to provide "intensive case management" and wage subsidies for people unemployed for more than three years.

The funding is part of a larger $100 million four-year budget jobs package, which includes $27.4 million to help sickness and invalid's beneficiaries into work, and $55.2 million to improve the quality of childcare and after-school care to help mothers back into work.

Mr Maharey also said the budget included $47 million to help families "in greatest need".

The money would go towards a raft of programmes including:

* expansion of the Family Start programme providing advice and support to high needs rural families;

* piloting a parenting support service;

* previously announced services for children who witness family violence;

* better access for early childhood education for high needs families;

* parenting education through the Family Court.

- NZPA