I am pleased to see the Salvation Army building community housing units in Dunedin (ODT 16.9.25). No-one else is, anywhere in Otago or Southland, according to the Ministry of Housing and Urban’s Development’s latest figures.
In particular, Kainga Ora, the state housing provider, is actively selling land it cleared to property developers, who will build homes for rich and middle-class buyers and further increase house prices.
Those developers have been flexing their muscles recently, threatening to stop building and land bank their acquisitions if councils require financial contributions towards the costs of infrastructure connections and going over the heads of local government to Cabinet ministers if the rules around lead paint contamination of building sites are not relaxed to their advantage.
For its part the ministry released what it labelled a "consultation document" a few weeks ago.
I have read the document and note that it does mention homelessness and provision of housing at income-related rents to people unable to afford rents charged by landlords in the private sector.
However, most of the document refers to the perceived needs of private sector developers and recommends repealing or winding back laws and regulations concerning resource management and other matters.
Recently Cabinet agreed to tinker with housing regulations dating from 1947; despite their antiquity and in disregard of considerable demographic and social change since enactment, Cabinet did not think it worthwhile replacing the regulations with anything suitable to today’s needs.
As to what could or should be done to end homelessness, the Financial Times reported (16.9.25) a number of initiatives taking place in Paris, including conversion of inner-city properties into flats and apartments, some of which will be rented at below market rates.
These developments look similar to the one reported at the Loan and Mercantile Warehouse, but they involve considerable assistance from local and central government, which seems thin on the ground in Dunedin, glossy documents from the ministry and others notwithstanding.
However, providing accommodation to poor people, whether working or not, requires more than just dwelling space. In that respect, Andrew Simms’ remarks at a mayoral candidate forum were well meaning but are unlikely to be effective.
Wrap-around social services for people living in community housing are essential but are the responsibility of central government agencies, such as the Ministry of Social Development.
This is because the government has the resources and the legal obligations to assist vulnerable people.
I have also read a recent book on economic redistribution issues by Matthew Dimick, which includes a chapter on homelessness and recommends rent controls, at least in the short term and until supply of social and community housing at income-related rents increases substantially.
This is an idea well worth investigating in Dunedin, although landlords and the usual suspects on the political right will hate it.
While it is good that the Dunedin City Council has an employee to work on community housing issues, I cannot see anyone advocating for homeless people or those at risk of it.
As a result, it looks to me that attaining meaningful reduction in the number of homeless people in our region will remain elusive.
— Michael Gibson is a welfare advocate.
