As previously stated, this blog will be
focusing on polices and the criteria the government requires to stipulate whether
a person or family is eligible for help.
(picture retrieved from http://www.hawkesbay.co.nz/general-stories-page:/52532-napier-housing-action-group-to-return-to-parliament.html )
The suburb of Maraenui Napier has nearly 100 empty Housing New Zealand homes, therefore families who once tenanted these homes have had to move into private rentals which are not affordable or move in with family which can be overcrowded. I have read an article regarding a petition that was put forward to the government by a community group called Tu Tangata Maraenui. The petition was a protest against the changes made regarding the Housing New Zealand criteria. This is a link regarding the petition the group took to parliament:
(picture retrieved from http://www.hawkesbay.co.nz/general-stories-page:/52532-napier-housing-action-group-to-return-to-parliament.html )
The suburb of Maraenui Napier has nearly 100 empty Housing New Zealand homes, therefore families who once tenanted these homes have had to move into private rentals which are not affordable or move in with family which can be overcrowded. I have read an article regarding a petition that was put forward to the government by a community group called Tu Tangata Maraenui. The petition was a protest against the changes made regarding the Housing New Zealand criteria. This is a link regarding the petition the group took to parliament:
Arapera Brown a spokeswoman for Tu Tangata Maraenui
explains that the changes made to the criteria have left families unable to
afford private rent therefore two and three families all have to live together under
one roof. Additionally, the houses that are left unoccupied are an open invitation
for teenagers to use these homes for drinking, partying and criminal activities,
thus making an unsafe community (Brown, 2013). I decided to try and find out exactly what the criteria is to be eligible
for a housing New Zealand home. I went to their website and found that the
information provided was very limited, which meant if I wanted to know exactly what
the criteria was, I needed to ring the 0800 number. This made me question why this information was not provided on the internet and is this because the criteria can differ for individual cases. However, I did find out
how they prioritised successful applicants. Housing New Zealand has priority A,
“assessed as being at risk” B, “assessed as being serious” C, “assessed as
being moderate” and D, “assessed as being low” (Housing New Zealand Corporation,
2013), the link below has how many applicants are on waiting lists for each
region and how many under each priority:
As housing may be unaffordable for some, this puts pressure on a child’s health and well-being. Having multiple families overcrowding in the one home can mean compromised
personal space which may have an effect on the families health, according to
Howden-Chapman and Wilson (1999) overcrowded homes “are more likely to have low
socioeconomic status and higher unemployment” (p. 133). However, I saw on TV
One News Paula Bennett, the Minister of Social Development, explain that the beneficiary numbers had in fact dropped,
meaning more people have gone back to work. But, this statement was then challenged
when Major Pam Waugh from the Salvation Army stated that the food bank demands
have actually risen, even though Howden-Chapman and Wilson state that the
overcrowding can be due to higher unemployment, this may not always be the
case. This shows that even when people do have jobs it is not always enough to
get food on the table, additionally this shows that it is not always beneficiaries
that are struggling. So although benefit numbers are down the cost of living in
this country has risen to a point where more and more people need support. This
is the link regarding what Major Pam Waugh says about the food bank and Paula
Bennett’s opinion for the drop in benefits:
http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/poverty-group-slams-benefit-cuts-5406591/video
The above information led me to think about human rights and the rights of the child. "International human rights law lays down obligations of Governments to act in certain ways or to refrain from certain acts, in order to promote and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms of individuals or groups" (United Nations Human Rights, 1996, p. 1). Moreover, the Human Rights Commission (2010) explains children's rights are usually advocated as falling into three sections. One of these being 'provision rights' which states "provision rights include the right to an adequate living" (Human Rights Commission, 2010, p. 4). This lead me to wonder what happens for those families who do not meet the criteria? or those families who may not seek help or even know where to start. Does this mean children's rights are being denied? In my opinion yes because if families do not meet the criteria, children are the ones who suffer having to bunk in with family in overcrowded situations.
The above information led me to think about human rights and the rights of the child. "International human rights law lays down obligations of Governments to act in certain ways or to refrain from certain acts, in order to promote and protect human rights and fundamental freedoms of individuals or groups" (United Nations Human Rights, 1996, p. 1). Moreover, the Human Rights Commission (2010) explains children's rights are usually advocated as falling into three sections. One of these being 'provision rights' which states "provision rights include the right to an adequate living" (Human Rights Commission, 2010, p. 4). This lead me to wonder what happens for those families who do not meet the criteria? or those families who may not seek help or even know where to start. Does this mean children's rights are being denied? In my opinion yes because if families do not meet the criteria, children are the ones who suffer having to bunk in with family in overcrowded situations.
My next blog will look more at a child’s
health due to overcrowding situations, and the implications that come from poor
health for a child in regards to early childhood and other educational
settings.
References
Brown, A. (2013.). Napier housing action group to return to parliament. Retrieved from
http://www.hawkesbay.co.nz/general-stories-page:/52532-napier-housing-action-group-to-return-to-parliament.html
Housing New Zealand Coperation. (2013.). Retrieved
from http://www.hnzc.co.nz/rent-buy-or-own/rent-from-housing-new-zealand/waiting-list-by-nu
Howden-Chapman, P, & Wilson, N. (1999.). Housing and health. Retrieved from
http://www.healthyhousing.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/SIHch7.pdf
Human Rights Commission. (2010.). The rights of children and young people. Retrieved
from http://www.hrc.co.nz/hrc_new/hrc/cms/files/documents/20-Aug-2010_12-25-25_Childrens_chapter_v3.pdf 
Very informative Louise, well done!!!!
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