The Housing Crises walked into my home

In my home I had a spare room and, to put my money where my mouth is, a lady has taken it who has had a pretty hard time in life.

As she was moving-in I chatted to the gentleman who was helping her.

– “Bob” is 55yo and looks 75.

– He is a solo dad with a ten-year-old son whom he is exceedingly proud of.

– He told me that they have been housed in a run-down motel in Te Awamutu for three (3) years. Well over 1,000 days.

– And speaking of 1,000 that is how much money the taxpayer pays each week for this shoddy motel room. Yes – $1,000 a week. Yes – housing “Bob & son” has cost the taxpayer $156,000 over the last three years.

How have we, as a nation, got to this point? I have no doubt (but also no details) that “Bob” has not lived a perfect life – but does he, and his ten year old son, deserve this open prison? His son is the only child in the motel complex.

Help! Someone? Anyone?

As a highly connected aside. New Zealand has the worst homeless stats of the OECD.

By comparison on percentage of homeless:

Japan – 0.00%    Population Density of 338.2 people per square km.

Israel – 0.04%     Population Density of 400 people per square km.

NZ – 0.86%         Population Density of 18 people per square km.

​Alwyn Poole

alwyn.poole@gmail.com

Innovative Education Consultants

www.innovativeeducation.co.nz

Comments (49)

Login to comment or vote

Add a Comment