During the 10-year plan consultation process the council had asked whether it should narrow its criteria for prioritising access to social housing from those with limited assets aged 55 years and up, to a higher age limit of 65 years.
Instead, in a meeting on Tuesday, councillors voted not only to retain the present age, but also to broaden the criteria.
Now, as well as the means-tested age bar, it will also prioritise ‘‘those with urgent and/or physically accessible housing need’’.
The new rules would give flexibility to provide housing sooner for groups such as former refugees living in emergency housing and disabled people living independently.
There had been majority support during the 10-year plan consultation process for prioritising community housing for those aged 65 and up, 66% of submissions received supporting the older age bracket.
However, a report tabled at Tuesday’s council meeting highlighted inequities in mortality and life expectancy that existed for Maori and Pasifika people compared with those from other groups.
The report said the difference in life expectancy was between five and seven years.
‘‘In other words, Maori and Pasifika people are less likely to live to age 65, when compared to non Maori and Pasifika people.’’
Dunedin Mayor Aaron Hawkins said he had originally thought raising the age would have been a reasonable response to demand pressures on the social housing waitlist, but he welcomed staff feedback on the inequitable effects such a move would have on different communities.
‘‘Thank you for the reminder of my inherent biases and I welcome the position that we’ve got to.’’
The new criteria will be used in a revised draft community housing policy which will come back before the council later in the year.
