Editorial: State housing U-turn long overdue

Mark Dawson, Editor of Wanganui Chronicle

Homelessness in New Zealand has been one of the big stories of the year - despite officialdom's attempts to hide the harsh reality of some people's lives.

The story has, inevitably, mainly revolved around Auckland, but Whanganui has not been immune.

The Chronicle has highlighted the problem with a number of stories and so have people in the community like Steve Treloar, who tackles the often thankless task of trying to find accommodation for released prisoners, and Major Glenn Anderson of the Salvation Army.

In our patch, Housing New Zealand has pursued a policy of selling off state homes and justifying this by telling us that demand is low here.

However, the figures make depressing reading - and the figures come from the Government's own Ministry of Social Development.

In December 2015, 28 people/families in Whanganui were judged to be in severe or serious need of a home. There was one state house available.

In March 2016, there were 29 in severe or serious need, with six homes available.

In June 2016, 24 in need chasing just two available state homes.

In September, Whanganui had 33 people/families in severe or serious need. Housing New Zealand did not have a single home available.

With the best will in the world, you could only describe that as failure; as 12 months of people in dire need being turned away.

So on today's front page, we are pleased to report a change of heart by the powers-that-be, with the promise of 20 new homes and an acknowledgment from the ministry that, yes, there is an increase in need in Whanganui.

Better late than never.

We would like to see these 20 new homes occupied as soon as possible, and we will continue to monitor how Housing NZ and the Ministry of Social Development perform in carrying out their obligations to the people of Whanganui.