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Housing Minister Dr Nick Smith and Associate Housing Minister Paula Bennett today released the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment’s estimates of the number of first home buyers in Canterbury who are to benefit from the Government’s new KiwiSaver HomeStart package.

Social Development Minister Paula Bennett says people and families in need of social housing will be better supported by the Government’s investment of $95.7 million of new money over the next four years.

“We want to ensure those with a genuine social housing need are in the right house, for as long as they need it.  Some people may simply need some extra assistance to access housing in the private market.  This will free up social housing for people that really need it,” says Mrs Bennett.

From tomorrow selected community groups will be able to offer income related rents for people needing social housing and people will be able to test their eligibility through Work and Income.

“We are growing low cost housing by partnering with dedicated community groups that are providing the properties.  We are also expanding income related rent subsidies beyond Housing New Zealand,” says Social Development Minister Paula Bennett.

The Government today announced the next step in delivering housing assistance to those most in need with reviewable tenancies for all social housing tenants. 

In the first year this will apply to people currently paying market rents or close to market rents to see if they can move into and sustain a private rental.

About 800 reviews, commencing from 1 July 2014, are expected to be completed in the first year, out of approximately 68,000 state house tenancies.

Social Development Minister Paula Bennett has launched a new resource to help address family violence in ethnic communities.

The ‘Culture No Excuse for Abuse’ booklet has been produced by Auckland’s Shakti Community Council with help from the Ministry of Social Development’s ‘It’s Not OK’ family violence prevention campaign.

Social Development Minister Paula Bennett says thousands of carers have received extra cash to help meet the costs of looking after children since she announced new payments and grants last month.

“I wanted to ensure carers were aware of the extra funding before Christmas so they could relax a bit, knowing that help was on the way.”

Around 12,000 children are cared for by grandparents, extended family or other carers.

Already, around 2,000 payments of more than $880,000 have been made.

Latest benefit numbers reveal thousands of New Zealanders have gained financial independence by coming off welfare in the past 12 months, Social Development Minister Paula Bennett says. 

Figures for the December 2013 quarter released today show over 17,000 fewer people are on benefit compared to December 2012.

“This is a significant decrease and proof that the welfare reforms implemented by this Government are making a huge difference for New Zealanders,” Mrs Bennett said.

There were 321,869 people on benefit in the December 2013 quarter.