Housing cuts a disaster

South Canterbury’s state housing could be cut by 134 properties in the next ten years, which is ‘‘unfathomable’’, a Rangitata candidate says.

Homelessness and housing affordability continue to be issues faced by many South Cantabrians, placing more pressure on housing options.

Information released by the Labour Party, an obtained under the Official Information Act, reveals a 34 per cent decrease in the number of state houses was forecast for Timaru between 2016 and 2026.

Social Housing Minister Amy Adams challenged the Housing New Zealand (HNZ) demand forecasts, calling the figures ‘‘outof-date’’.

The data was superseded by instructions from the Government late last year, whereby HNZ could continue to sell properties only where the Ministry of Social Development confirmed the cuts were consistent with its purchasing intentions, she said.

Timaru’s state housing stock was reduced by 11 houses between August 31, 2012 and 2016.

Labour Party candidate Jo Luxton said any cuts to state housing stock were ‘‘unfathomable’’.

‘‘I cannot understand why this government does not see how important it is to retain housing stock for people who need it,’’ Luxton said.

‘‘Timaru needs to retain its housing stock, especially when we hear of people on waiting lists and living in overcrowded conditions.

‘‘How are people supposed to put down roots and contribute to our economy if they don’t have a place to live, to call their home?’’

There were 12 South Canterbury families on the waiting list, and 150 people reported as homeless, in the latest figures released in December, she said.

The Labour Party planned to stop the state house sell off in Timaru, and around New Zealand, if it was in government, she said.

Green Party list MP and Rangitata candidate Mojo Mathers said selling off more social housing would be a disaster for struggling families.

‘‘We clearly already have a shortage of social housing in Timaru,’’ Mathers said.

‘‘National’s agenda of selling off state houses and social housing services is failing people in need. It is the worst possible action to be taking when we have a housing crisis in New Zealand.’’

Mathers sat on a cross party inquiry into homelessness last year. It was not just an issue in Auckland, but also in the regions, she said.

She advocated for a national strategy to end homelessness.

HNZ asset development general manager Patrick Dougherty said the demand forecasts were longrun forecasts of historic social housing register trends, which were used to inform long term asset planning.

It was one of many inputs to HNZ’s long term planning, Dougherty said.

‘‘The best-placed people to determine social housing numbers are those at the heart of analysing the need and then meeting that demand.’’

Adams said it had been made clear that HNZ should only sell houses where there was a falling demand, where they were aligned with the Ministry’s purchasing strategy, and where properties were not needed for emergency housing.

‘‘Over the next three years, we are planning to grow the number of social houses available, from 66,000 today, to 72,000. In addition, we are currently in the process of procuring 2150 emergency housing places across New Zealand.’’

Rangitata MP Jo Goodhew did not respond by deadline.