This much-hyped government report to Tama Potaka gives a few insights, but doesn't really nail the problem.
There are more people living rough, but we can't say for sure how many more, and even if we could, we can't say how statistically significant the change might be.
Because we had census data, we know it got way worse under Labour - up 37% from 2018-2023.
The councils are reporting —what economists might call— high frequency data that things are getting worse - the rising number of phone calls and reports of concern they're getting from the public.
The real question —which is the basis of what the Opposition's upset about— is if the Government's crackdown on emergency housing caused a wave of homeless refugees camped out on the streets?
Here's some interesting numbers: the number of households living in emergency motels is down by 75%, around 85% of them went to some form of housing.
So that's great. They managed to smash through the list and get most people housed.
And here's where Labour's claim gets a bit unbelievable: there's only been a 4% increase in declines for emergency applications.
An increase in homeless doesn't necessarily mean the emergency accommodation changes were a disaster.
In fact, the numbers would, at least on the face of it, appear to show it's been wildly successful.
Ryan Bridge is a New Zealand broadcaster who has worked on many current affairs television and radio shows. He currently hosts Newstalk ZB's Early Edition - where this article was sourced.
4 comments:
Well done Ryan. At last a story with research and numbers to back it up.
Have you looked up the NZ supermarket profitability vs international norms? A retraction and apology would make for a popular article!
This article and everyone who has ever used the term "homeless" have either completely missed the point or are willfully blind to the real issue.
There is an epidemic of addiction in NZ caused drugs and alcohol which then leads to mental health issues.
Homeless? what complete bollocks.
Until authorities can correctly identify the problem it will not be solved with emergency accommodation or adopting a street person or whatever idiotic and dangerous suggestions I have seen lauded as noble solutions in the media recently.
We need to wake up and stop deluding ourselves.
NZ is on the way to being a real "zombie" land if we don't.
Māori and Pacific children, as well as those with disabilities, experience disproportionately high rates of material hardship, with close to one in four and one in three children respectively being affected, according to BERL research.
But hold the bus...are these not the very communities that champion collective living, caring, sharing whanau connections etc?
My point is, the "houseless" people are never asked (by interviewers) where their families are? Everyone has someone. It's no use having eight kids and then saying "please give me a house." The Benefit system is enabling and almost encouraging people to breed like blowflies and then get paid per child to remain in poverty and breed some more.
Where is the incentive to be self-sustaining? It's "rescue me" all the way.
Paying able-bodied people of any race or creed to slob around home eating, smoking, drinking, playing X Box and declining in their mental and physical health is fiscal madness.
Many people on the streets have burned their bridges. They cause damage and mayhem and rellies biff them out. Who wouldn't? We as a nation are awash with drugs. Successive Governments tinker at the edges, but never actually grasp the nettle. So the beat goes on.
There are a myriad doctorates based on a myriad obscure subjects, but few on such basics as supposed homelessness. Separated or never together families feel little obligation to support offspring forever, and often cannot as they are expected to devote their own time to work. The modern world is very difficult for the limited able. Cheap accommodation could once be tracked from adverts in a newspaper from a rubbish bin. So much is now fathomable only via access to and relatively skilled use of the Internet. Many sub standard accommodations, hostel type buildings etc have been closed (ie Tui Glen, Henderson). Thousands lived in garages and caravans. (When I was a schoolboy my family lived cosily for months in a garage whilst house built). Now illegal, especially if charged for. The standards for accommodation are now so high and maintenance of in consequence so potentially expensive, most rent or damage shortfalls unrecoverable, and the risk of prosecution for non compliance so great, owners are very careful about who they let loose in. State institutions for misfits have faded as the cost of thefts by staff along with later vast compensation awards from inmates for alleged interference are too risky. It used to be an offence to be Idle and Disorderly. Police and others could move persons on without fear of legal action.
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