- Target:
- New Zealand Parliament
- Region:
- New Zealand
Poor housing conditions are a growing concern within Manukau East (Otara, Papatoetoe, Otahuhu and Mangere) and are impacting negatively on families within our community. It is at a point where people are dying simply because they live in such an unhealthy home. This is happening right here in our neighboring communities, not anywhere else, it's happening right here.
Rent and housing prices are escalating at such a fast rate that the household income for many families within these areas are simply not enough to cover housing expenses, on top of more essential basic needs like food, healthcare, education etc. Due to such little income, families then seek cheaper houses which leads them to older houses with very poor conditions.
The conditions of these households are damp, moldy and vermin infested with little or no insulation and heating features within the house, it is hard to cope during winter. It is said that around 300,000 homes within New Zealand are in this condition. These conditions are the main causes for why people, mostly children, are catching serious illnesses and infections such as rheumatic fever, bronchitis and pneumonia.
Overcrowding is another huge condition that also impacts on families negatively. Figures show that 10% of the New Zealand population live in overcrowded homes simply because they can’t afford their own place.
The extent of overcrowding is not limited to 6 or 7 people within a 3 bedroom home, there have been many cases of 10, 14, and at the most, 17 in a 3 bedroom house. Resulting from such conditions, many have had to create bedrooms in spaces such as hallways, garages, living rooms and even outdoors simply to accommodate for their extended family who can’t afford proper housing. Overcrowding also contributes to the spread of illnesses and infections due to people having to share rooms/spaces in the house.
This doesn’t only affect the family's health but it also affects their emotional well being. For children within the home, it also affects their ability to study and succeed in school as they are raised in such an unhealthy and overcrowded home.
These families who suffer deserve a healthy, warm and insulated home.
We’re asking you to support us in advising the government that this isn’t an issue we take lightly, but it is an issue that will continue to grow unless they do something.
We need you to help these families by signing this petition, and showing your support for the Housing Restructuring and Tenancy Matters (Assured Tenancies) Amendment Bill.
This bill in accordance to our petition will ensure that those who are most needed of a house is prioritized and placed in state housing without any reviewing process. This bill states that it is applied to three groups of tenants in particular- the elderly, the disabled and families with school age children or younger. This bill also states that it will provide quality and affordable housing for families who are in need. Quality housing can be defined as having the right design, size and appropriate location to best fit these families. It also ensures that these families gain affordable housing on top of gaining housing support if needed.
We, the undersigned, call on the New Zealand government to help improve the housing conditions for the residents who need it by approving the Housing Restructuring and Tenancy Matters Bill.
You can further help this campaign by sponsoring it
The Healthy Homes, Healthy Families petition to New Zealand Parliament was written by Kartya Walker and is in the category Human Rights at GoPetition.