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The Government is seeking partners to manage emergency housing and provide support services for tenants in the next step in its plan to increase the number of emergency places throughout New Zealand.

After the success of securing more than 3000 emergency places across the country, the Government is asking community organisations with expertise to help both increase supply and manage new government-owned facilities, Social Housing Minister Paula Bennett says.

The Government has granted nearly $2.5 million in assistance to help people move from social housing to sustainable private housing, freeing up places for those who need it most, Social Housing Minister Paula Bennett says.

Housing Support Products (HSPs) were introduced in July, 2014, to help people achieve independence by moving into the private housing market and to remain in it. Since then, 1954 HSPs worth a total of $2.44 million have been granted.

E nga mana, e nga reo, e te iwi o te motu, tena koutou, tena koutou, tena koutou katoa.

Introduction –  Community Housing Sector

Thank you for the opportunity to speak with you today.

I would like to acknowledge:

Vacant Crown land in Auckland will be turned into a 51-home development to provide transitional housing for families before they move into permanent accommodation, Social Housing Minister Paula Bennett has announced.

The 1.6ha site at Luke St, Otahuhu, has been earmarked by its owner the Ministry of Education for a future school, but in the meantime will be developed into 27 two-bedroom, seven three-bedroom and 17 four-bedroom homes for families on the social housing register.

The Salvation Army is to receive more than $1.5 million to fund 884 emergency housing places across the country each year.

Social Housing Minister Paula Bennett announced on Tuesday that Budget 2016 funding, directly targeted at emergency housing, has so far resulted in 30 organisations providing 3032 new and existing emergency places.

A target of around 3000 emergency housing places funded per year has been exceeded and Social Housing Minister Paula Bennett is seeking even more places to help house vulnerable New Zealanders.

The second round of funding for a share of $33 million announced in Budget 2016, directly targeted at emergency housing, has so far resulted in 51 proposals from 30 providers across the country providing 3032 new and existing emergency places per year.

The Government’s Social Housing Reform Programme is on track with more social housing available in Auckland and more on the way, says Social Housing Minister Paula Bennett.

There are currently 3185 community housing places funded from Income Related Rent subsidies throughout New Zealand and an increase in Housing New Zealand houses in Auckland, with another 3000 to be delivered over the next three years.

The Government is giving an extra $24.4 million to community housing providers to increase the supply of social housing in Auckland.

“We know the property market is extremely tight in Auckland at present, and it is no different for those organisations helping to house our most vulnerable citizens. This extra funding will allow community housing providers (CHPs) create more medium- to long-term social housing, and faster, where the need is most acute,” Social Housing Minister Paula Bennett says.

IHC subsidiary Accessible Properties has been chosen as the preferred provider to take over the ownership of Housing New Zealand’s properties in Tauranga, Ministers Bill English and Paula Bennett say.

Accessible Properties was one of three shortlisted respondents asked to submit a formal proposal to purchase the 1124 properties and take over the management of their tenancies.

The Government is now working with Accessible Properties to finalise the agreement. It is expected negotiations will be completed by October with a final decision to be made shortly after.

The Government is investing $9 million over two years in the next steps of its programme to support the most vulnerable New Zealanders’ housing needs, Social Housing Minister Paula Bennett says.

This flexible fund will assist community organisations to work with around 2,000 individuals and families, to help the homeless and people having difficulty holding onto their tenancies, and to support them into housing independence.

“The evidence is clear that simply finding a bed for the homeless isn’t enough,” Mrs Bennett says.

Grants to help people in or waiting for social housing with the costs of moving from Auckland are off to a good start and are already making a difference, Social Housing Minister Paula Bennett says.

Since the policy took effect one month ago, 12 applicants have received the non-recoverable grant, supporting 32 people. $54,508 has been paid out, covering things like moving costs, bond, rent in advance and letting fees.

Assistance has been approved for a further 10 applicants, supporting 20 people, pending confirmed moving dates and verification of costs.

The latest social housing register shows that the Government is working with vulnerable people to support their housing needs, Social Housing Minister Paula Bennett says.

Nationwide, applications on the housing register increased by 328 to 3,877 from the March to June 2016 quarter. The transfer register, or people already housed but wishing to move, increased by 99 to 1,135. Over the same period, the Auckland register increased by 24 applications.  

The Government is moving ahead with plans to build modular social housing as a part of its comprehensive plan to increase the housing supply and house more vulnerable New Zealanders, Social Housing Minister Paula Bennett says.

Most of the homes will be one or two bedrooms and, while the supplier has not yet been chosen, the properties will be modern and comfortable. If density rules permit, the sites could support between 100 and 140 houses in total.

Greater collaboration and strategic thinking by the public sector is delivering real benefits for the public, State Services Minister Paula Bennett says.

Close to 400 public servants from across New Zealand attended the 2016 Deloitte IPANZ Public Sector Excellence Awards in Wellington last night.

“It’s always a great privilege to celebrate our hard-working and dedicated public servants who provide the outstanding services New Zealanders expect,” Mrs Bennett says.

Two initiatives to help some of New Zealand’s most vulnerable people into emergency housing are available from today.

A special needs grant for emergency housing which does not have to be paid back was announced as part of a $41.1 million boost for emergency accommodation in this year’s Budget.

“This is the first time any government has committed ongoing, dedicated funding for emergency housing, because we recognise that not everyone has access to a safe and stable home,” Social Housing Minister Paula Bennett says.

The Otahuhu community has received a much-needed housing boost with the completion of 18 new social housing properties, Social Housing Minister Paula Bennett says.

Built on the site where just five 1950s state houses once stood, all of the 18 new Housing New Zealand (HNZ) properties will soon be home to some of Auckland’s most needy families and individuals.

The houses on the 4352 sq m Special Housing Area site include eight two-bedroom homes, two three-bedroom homes, six four-bedroom homes and two five-bedroom homes.

Grants of up to $5000 to cover costs involved in moving from Auckland will be available from Monday, 20 June, for eligible people who may want to relocate to other areas of the country but find cost a barrier.

Since Social Housing Minister Paula Bennett announced the grant last month, Work and Income has received around 130 inquiries about the grant, which will not have to be paid back.

From Monday, people in social housing, on the social housing register or eligible for social housing can go to Work and Income and make appointments to assess their suitability.

The Government has a wide range of work underway to progress social housing reforms that will help the community housing sector grow and innovate, Ministers Bill English and Paula Bennett say.

The Government is committed to transferring between 1000-2000 properties to registered community housing providers this year under its Social Housing Reform Programme.

Budget 2016 invests $258 million to ensure people most in need of social housing have access to this essential service, Social Housing Minister Paula Bennett says.

“The additional investment in social housing will provide at least 750 more places for individuals and families on the social housing register with the most pressing housing needs,” Mrs Bennett says.

Housing New Zealand is already building more homes than the Greens’ rushed policy proposed, and additional social houses are also being sourced from Community Housing Providers, Ministers Bill English and Paula Bennett say.

“The Government takes seriously its responsibility to provide suitable social housing for our most vulnerable. We have made it a priority to deliver more social houses by speeding up Housing New Zealand’s development programme, and sourcing more homes from Community Housing Providers,” Housing New Zealand Minister Bill English says.

For the first time, the Government will pay for about 3000 emergency housing places across the country per year so people have access to a roof over their head when they need it most.

The Government will provide $41.1 million over the next four years in Budget 2016 for emergency housing and grants.

“Emergency housing provides an essential safety net for people in crisis, and is an opportunity to intervene and support families with complex needs,” Social Housing Minister Paula Bennett says.

The number of people on the Social Housing Register has again declined, the result of a more targeted approach to meeting individual needs, Social Housing Minister Paula Bennett says.

Figures for the March 2016 quarter show there were 4585 people on the register, down 223 or 4.6 per cent on the same time last year. Of those on the register in March 2016, 1036 are already housed and are awaiting a transfer to a more suitable property.

Social housing in Christchurch has been given a boost with the opening today of 15 new units in Aranui.

The Aldershot St development, one of six major developments under construction in the area, is a great example of Housing New Zealand and the local community working together, Social Housing Minister Paula Bennett says.

“Aranui was particularly hard-hit by the Canterbury earthquakes, but this also gave HNZ the opportunity to replace many of its properties with modern, fit-for-purpose homes to help rejuvenate the area,” Mrs Bennett says.

Modern and healthy new Housing New Zealand homes in Tāmaki are a stark contrast to the old and cold state houses of the past, Social Housing Minister Paula Bennett.

Opened by Mrs Bennett today, the 21 new homes at Sunnymead Road in Glen Innes, Auckland have been built on large sections that formerly had only six properties.

“These new homes are a fantastic example of what modern social housing looks like in New Zealand, so I’m thrilled to be here to open them today,” Mrs Bennett says.