Editorial: Housing - if not a crisis, then close enough

Mark Dawson, Editor of Wanganui Chronicle

Steph Lewis reckons there's a housing crisis in Whanganui.

Well, as Labour candidate for the Whanganui electorate in September's election, she would say that, wouldn't she?

The Salvation Army's Major Glenn Anderson is slightly more circumspect, describing the situation as "dire".

Still, whatever the terminology, it seems evident that the double-pronged "Auckland housing crisis" - soaring house prices putting home ownership out of reach for many; families sleeping in cars and garages due to a lack of state or low-cost accommodation - has, in part, migrated here.

The Chronicle story of last week about 40 people chasing one rental property has apparently been topped - 56 people turning up to view a house in Castlecliff.

Equally alarming are the official figures ...

For the first quarter of this year, the Ministry of Social Development's state housing register reports 66 Whanganui families either in immediate or persistent need of a home, and Housing New Zealand reports zero properties available.

That continues the pattern of disconnect between those who need a state house and what's on offer - a pattern which has run for the past 12 months. In that time, Housing NZ has never had close to enough properties available to take in those considered in most desperate need.

Housing NZ has said it will build 20 new houses in Whanganui but there seems to be no timeframe, and a sense of urgency would be appreciated.

The Sallies have funding to establish seven emergency houses, but the rental situation - tight and getting tighter - means they have been unable to source them so far.

Whanganui's much-trumpeted housing affordability is taking a bit of a buffeting from rising house prices - though that is generally considered a good thing; a sign of a strengthening local economy.

However, it's a sign that will be of cold comfort to anyone facing the onset of winter and bedding down in the back of a car.