Tenants seek secure housing
3/10/2007 12:00:00 a.m.
CITY council tenants grilled election candidates on the future of social housing this week.
The meeting, organised by the Wellington Housing Association of Tenants (WHAT), was for Lambton and Southern Ward candidates
Those candidates who showed were generally supportive of council’s social housing role, says WHAT chair Ina Smart. However, only half of the 16 candidates from the two wards showed at the meeting.
The current council has committed itself to providing low cost housing for at least another three decades as a condition of a social housing rescue package granted by the government.
The government will give the council $220 million over the next 10-15 years to reconfigure its housing stock. In return, council must maintain the current level of housing provision, reinvest all rental income from its housing stock in social housing, review its tenancy management and rent-setting practices, and give the Crown first right of refusal before selling any of its houses or flats.
Smart says package was a relief to tenants, but many are wary that national and local politics can change with elections.
“But people wonder if a new government could take that back,” she says.
A key concern for tenants is how the incoming council will spend the grant, Smart says. She also wonders if the number of council units may fall even though the number of buildings is likely to be stable.
Councillor Ian McKinnon, one of eight candidates at the meeting, says housing stock will be maintained at current levels.
“There are 2,350 units currently housing around 4,000 people. The intent is to retain that number.”
With 180,000 residents, and more likely to move into the central city, Wellington will continue to need “social housing”, he says.
McKinnon said it was disappointing more candidates had not made it to the meeting. “In an election you are morally obliged to turn up to meetings organised by groups in the community.”
The meeting was attended by candidates Shelagh Noble, John Robinson, Iona Pannett, and councillors Alick Shaw, Bryan Pepperell, Stephanie Cook, Celia Wade-Brown and McKinnon.
The meeting, organised by the Wellington Housing Association of Tenants (WHAT), was for Lambton and Southern Ward candidates
Those candidates who showed were generally supportive of council’s social housing role, says WHAT chair Ina Smart. However, only half of the 16 candidates from the two wards showed at the meeting.
The current council has committed itself to providing low cost housing for at least another three decades as a condition of a social housing rescue package granted by the government.
The government will give the council $220 million over the next 10-15 years to reconfigure its housing stock. In return, council must maintain the current level of housing provision, reinvest all rental income from its housing stock in social housing, review its tenancy management and rent-setting practices, and give the Crown first right of refusal before selling any of its houses or flats.
Smart says package was a relief to tenants, but many are wary that national and local politics can change with elections.
“But people wonder if a new government could take that back,” she says.
A key concern for tenants is how the incoming council will spend the grant, Smart says. She also wonders if the number of council units may fall even though the number of buildings is likely to be stable.
Councillor Ian McKinnon, one of eight candidates at the meeting, says housing stock will be maintained at current levels.
“There are 2,350 units currently housing around 4,000 people. The intent is to retain that number.”
With 180,000 residents, and more likely to move into the central city, Wellington will continue to need “social housing”, he says.
McKinnon said it was disappointing more candidates had not made it to the meeting. “In an election you are morally obliged to turn up to meetings organised by groups in the community.”
The meeting was attended by candidates Shelagh Noble, John Robinson, Iona Pannett, and councillors Alick Shaw, Bryan Pepperell, Stephanie Cook, Celia Wade-Brown and McKinnon.
