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Election 2023: Housing toolbox

Election 2023: Housing toolbox

CPAG has three key election asks in 2023: free preschool education for every child; a warm, safe dry house for every child and good food for every child.

For too long politicians have taken a hands-off approach to the housing market and have encouraged people with money to treat houses like a money-making scheme. It’s time for our government to build new houses to increase the supply of affordable homes. And to get the housing market back under control by cracking down on property speculation through a capital gains tax and safeguarding families from dodgy landlords through sensible protections for renters.

There are 24,000 households on the public housing waiting list of which 43% include children. These numbers changed little during 2022 despite the Government’s efforts at building more state houses and contracting community housing providers to provide social housing through income related rent contracts.

In this toolbox you will find information to back up our second election ask. We hope it is useful for NGOs, political parties, journalists and policy makers because houses aren’t schemes. They’re the places we live. Where our kids grow up.

WANT TO TAKE ACTION? HERE’S HOW YOU CAN:

At the moment children living in motels and experiencing other forms of homelessness are not counted in official child poverty statistics. We think that’s wrong.

If you agree with us you can write to the Minister for Child Poverty Reduction, Hon Jan Tinetti (Labour), the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Social Development Hon Carmel Sepuloni (Labour), the Minister of Housing Hon Megan Woods (Labour) or the Minister of Statistics Hon Deborah Russell.

This helps keep the housing problems experienced by our most vulnerable children front and centre of politics.

You could also write to National Child Poverty Reduction spokesperson Louise Upston, National’s Housing spokesperson Chris Bishop, National’s Social Investment Spokesperson Nicola Willis or National’s Spokesperson for Statistics Simon Watts.

Karen Chhour is the ACT party spokeperson for child poverty and Ricardo Menéndez March is the Greens spokesperson for social development.

You could also write to your local MP or candidate and tell them your concerns. A full list of contact details for Members of Parliament can be accessed here.

GET ACTIVE ON SOCIAL MEDIA

#housingforallkiwikids

Here’s are three posts we’ve created for you: CLICK HERE, HERE and HERE. Or make your own. We can’t wait to see what you come up with. Don’t forget to tag us in your posts.

CPAG HOUSING RESEARCH

LIFEWISE