Labour MP wants role in Dunedin social housing issue

Clare Curran
Clare Curran
Dunedin South Labour MP Clare Curran wants a role in the debate on social housing in Dunedin, something she says is an important issue in her electorate.

The issue is back on the agenda, after council staff recommended $10 million be cut from new spending on council housing units in the next 10 years.

The issue will be discussed during the Dunedin City Council annual plan hearings this week, and when a social housing strategy goes out for public consultation this year.

Ms Curran said she thought the Government had an important role in social housing, especially in the South Dunedin area, which had a considerable number of older people, and those on lower incomes.

The issue came up when she went door knocking during the election campaign, and "confronted with people on their doorsteps in council flats trying to grapple with the issue of very steep rent increases".

"I'm really wanting to engageon this issue," Ms Curran said.

Asked whether she thought councils or the Government should take the responsibility for social housing, she said both had a responsibility.

"The Dunedin City Council's responsibility goes back a long way."

The council has a break-even policy for its social housing, meaning it makes neither a loss or a profit, but pays for itself through rent.

Asked whether ratepayers should subsidise people who took advantage of the cheaper housing, she said the issue was one of "collective responsibility".

"They are hard issues, I acknowledge that."

She planned to raise the issue during three-monthly meetings between the council and local MPs, and expected to be approached if there were any forums on the issue.

As well, she planned to participate in a Dunedin Council of Social Services forum on social housing in next month , and hoped for cross-party discussions on the issue.

 

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