The human rights of people experiencing homelessness should be at the forefront of the Government's plans to revamp the emergency housing system, Te Kāhui Tika Tangata Human Rights Commission says.
In a statement responding to the Government's new policies, the commissioner said it was "not clear" whether the changes had gone through a strong human rights and te Tiriti o Waitangi analysis as required. She added she would be taking this concern up with the ministers responsible for the changes.
The Government yesterday announced it would be establishing a "priority one" category for families with children in emergency housing from April this year, with the aim of speeding up the process of moving out of motels and into social housing.
It will also task the Ministry of Social Development with increasing scrutiny on those seeking to access emergency housing, including assessing if people have "unreasonably contributed" to their need for emergency housing and whether they've made a reasonable effort to find other housing.
"Emergency housing is one of the biggest public policy failures in New Zealand history. Under the last government’s watch, thousands of children were consigned to grow up in motels," Housing Minister Chris Bishop said as he delivered the announcement.
Coaltion Government outlines scheme to move families with children quickly into social housing. (Source: 1News)
In a statement this afternoon, Disability Rights Commissioner Prudence Walker said the Government must uphold its obligations to provide people experiencing homelessness in Aotearoa a "decent home" that "meets human rights standards".
Walker said there were challenges in "finding a decent, affordable home" thatmeets people's needs but these were exacerbated further for people on low incomes – and even more so if the person had a disability and was in need of an accessible home.
"The impacts of homelessness on our communities are serious and wide-ranging, and it is right that the Government moves to improve the system."
She said the proposals on the table were expected to have undergone "a strong human rights and te Tiriti o Waitangi analysis" but that was "not clear".
Walker said she intended to speak with the ministers involved.
An estimated 100,000 or more people in Aotearoa were experiencing some form of homelessness – with tangata whenua significantly affected.
"To meet human rights and te Tiriti o Waitangi obligations, the Government’s frontline response to homelessness should be built upon fulfilling the right to a decent home, which ensures people’s dignity and mana is respected," Walker said.
"We have to make sure that people – whether it is disabled people, elderly people, or young families – have appropriate and accessible housing."
Housing Minister Chris Bishop earlier said the new category meant families with dependent children in emergency housing for longer than 12 weeks would move to the top of the social housing waitlist, getting them into "stable housing" sooner.
It will also leapfrog families with children to the top of the social housing list if they have been in emergency housing for longer than 12 weeks.
The move was the first step in ending the "large-scale use" of emergency housing, he said.
The Government currently spent around $340 million per year on emergency housing places.
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