The growing issue of methamphetamine contamination is challenging landlords across New Zealand and Australia. The Australasian Housing Institute in collaboration with Housing New Zealand and Community Housing Aotearoa recently hosted a presentation to share the Housing New Zealand’s approach to managing meth contamination across its national portfolio. A report on this 9 June event follows.
Wellington community housing organisation, Dwell Housing Trust, recently received some negative press as a result of one of their homes being closed and the tenants being relocated to new homes. This was a very difficult situation for Dwell to handle and, despite handling the situation with sensitivity and with considerable thought for tenant welfare, as Dwell CEO Alison Cadman says: “not all publicity is good publicity.”
A project to improve fire safety for supported housing is on track for completion by the end of the year. It is part of MBIE’s Fire Programme.
Through the warm and dry programme, all Housing New Zealand properties will, where required, have a warm and dry assessment and intervention, completed on them.
In April, CHA Director Scott Figenshow wrote to Minister for Social Housing Paula Bennett with a proposal to stimulate new social and affordable housing production by converting Housing Innovation Fund term loans to equity.
Every fortnight Geoff Simmons talks with Jesse Mulligan on RNZ’s Afternoons programme about a variety of economic issues. This week they cover the housing bubble. Will it burst?
The Otautahi Community Housing Trust has 25 positions to be filled by people who want to help Christchurch residents who need support with social housing
In the first meeting of its kind a steering group established to tackle homelessness and emergency housing needs in Tauranga came up with a plan of action. The Tauranga Homeless Steering Group has a plan to find short- to medium-term solutions for women and families currently living on the streets or in cars and tents. The group first planned to find out how many families were homeless, where they were and what they needed.
MBIE have recommended that community housing providers consider implementing policies and procedures for the identification and treatment of methamphetamine contamination for properties in your portfolios. Consideration should also be given to the development of policies and processes for keeping staff and tenants safe in such circumstances. In this regard, Emerge Aotearoa has been leading the way in developing policies for the testing and treatment of methamphetamine contamination. To assist you in developing your own policies in this area, Emerge Aotearoa has kindly agreed to share these policies with the sector.
Auckland leaders call for action by government: Deputy Mayor Penny Hulse wants a “use it or lose it” clause for Special Housing Area developers and restrictions on investor lending, while Tamaki Collective Chair Paul Majurey says government should require 50-60 percent affordable housing built on released Crown land.
