Housing recovery neglects the poor

Today begins aweek’s coverage of Canterbury’s post-earthquake housing problems. Social andhealth agencies say there isnobigger crisis facing the region than the security and affordability of housing. CATEBROUGHTONand SHELLEY ROBINSON today examine the pro

Canterbury’s earthquake recovery has failed to address the housing needs of the region’s poorest people, creating a vicious cycle of mental illness and dependence, the region’s health boss says.

Canterbury District Health Board (CDHB) chief executive David Meates said the supply of affordable housing for the most disadvantaged was desperately short. Of 80 patients at Hillmorton Hospital in the past week, 35 were homeless.

‘‘It becomes a vicious cycle, these people become increasingly vulnerable and they also become increasingly invisible in the community,’’ Meates said. ‘‘It means there are fewer options for them to have as ordinary a life as possible.’’

A drag on addressing housing supply had created problems for mental health services, he said.

‘‘It’s taken a long time to create viable, suitable alternatives for some of the most vulnerable in our community and it’s those groups that remain at risk.’’

It cost the CDHB $13,000 a night for every homeless patient forced to stay in hospital. Meates said there was no alternative. ‘‘As a district health board we do not close our doors for this sort of care.’’

More than 1000 people are on waiting lists for subsidised housing owned by the government, city council or community housing providers.

For those struggling to afford accommodation in the private rental market, or who do not meet the criteria for social housing waiting lists, options were limited and often detrimental to their health.

About 11,500 houses were lost in the Canterbury earthquakes, 7000 of them in eastern Christchurch. House prices in the city have increased by 33 per cent since 2010, New Zealand Real Estate Institute figures showed. Rents have increased by 20 per cent, according to a Salvation Army’s State of the Nation report from February.

Christchurch rent increases had been highest nationally since 2010, the report said.

Christchurch Deputy Mayor Vicki Buck said housing affordability had not been prioritised after the earthquakes, but the council and the Government had begun to address the problem in the past year.

‘‘I think it was desperate and I think for a number of people it still is and I’m not denying it for a minute. I think the housing situation is still pretty tough.’’

The council’s formation of a community housing provider would increase the number of social housing units and make the operation sustainable, she said.

‘‘That’s why you can’t pretend [housing is] not our problem. I mean we could pretend that but it doesn’t achieve the outcomes we want for this community. That’s why I think we have to go in there and try everything and anything.’’

Social Housing Minister Paula Bennett said the Government was committed to addressing housing issues in the region. Housing NZ’s stock would be returned to prequake levels by the end of 2015, she said. Work included 700 rebuilds and 5000 repairs.

Other initiatives included $154 million over the next three years for more Income Related Rent Subsidies for community housing providers, provision of emergency accommodation for 30 households and $500,000 for emergency housing nationally.

will tell the stories of others struggling with housing problems until Friday. Each person was interviewed in late April and again in late May to check progress. The series concludes on Saturday with an analysis of local and central government responses and solutions.