Editorial: Re-think on state housing in Whanganui to be applauded

Mark Dawson, editor of Wanganui Chronicle

Over the past couple of years, the Chronicle has been strongly critical of Housing New Zealand and its apparent inability to meet the needs of Whanganui.

So it is pleasing to be able to report on Page 1 today that — in something of a U-turn — the state housing body is to build nine new two-bedroom homes here.

For a while it seemed Housing NZ was oblivious to the growing accommodation problem in the city — even though its own statistics told the tale.

In December 2015, there were 22 "at-risk" families in immediate need and six families in serious need on the list, and the state provider had just one property ready to let.

In June 2016, it was 17 "at-risk" and seven "serious", with just two homes available.
In September that year, the figures were 23 and 10 and there was not a single state property to be had.

During that time, Housing NZ was selling off houses, its stock in Whanganui falling from 604 to 572.

Behind those disturbing numbers are human stories of hardship and misery, but they are much harder to statistically quantify.

It is merely anecdotal evidence that suggests some of those families will have moved in with relatives; some will have joined the long queue to find a home in the very tight private rental market; and some may well have joined the ranks of the homeless, perhaps sleeping in a car.

Alongside Housing NZ's failings, we had PARS (Prisoners' Aid and Rehabilitation Society) struggling to find accommodation for former inmates and the Salvation Army desperately trying to acquire emergency housing.

Despite a worrying consistency in failing to get anywhere near matching demand, Housing NZ deemed Whanganui an area of "low demand".

There has clearly been a re-think.

The decision to build nine new houses is a response to growing demand, it says.
It is a decision and a change of attitude to be welcomed and applauded.