Plea for ‘more flexibility’ fails

Press, 10 May 1979, Page 10

Plea for ‘more flexibility’ fails

The Christchurch City Council had a “built-in flexibility” to deal with emergency housing cases, Cr Mollie Clark, chairman of its housing and property committee. said at a meeting of the committee. A motion by Cr D. F.l Caygill to make the system even more flexible was rejected by a narrow majority. Cr Vicki Buck has been trying to get the council to waive its requirement of a bond and two weeks rent I paid in advance for council flats in emergency cases. Cr Caygill’s motion in support ] of that — at least in some cases — would have left the matter in the hands of Cr Clark and the housing and property director (Mr K. R. McNeil) if suitable cases came forward. Mr McNeil said that the system had handled “isolated cases” in the past without the need for such council authority. In some cases, the council had been able to get some organisation to guarantee a bond. Cr Buck suggested that some flats could be funished, then let to tenants with emergency needs past the I short-term ones met by places such as the Women’s ' Refuge Centre. A proposal to furnish 1 some flats was rejected by 1 the council more than a year ] ago. | Cr R. Lester said that Cr ’ Buck’s recommendation was :

r “based on an unsubstan- ■ tiated supposition” that ■ more emergency cases would start coming to the council for help. But Cr Buck said it was not a supposition that many marriages were breaking up !and people were coming out of institutions. In both cases, persons affected could not save enough money to afford the council bond and rent in advance. Council officers said that such people could not often, afford council rents, either. Applicants who were unem-| I ployed or receiving a benefit] were better off with a Hous-' ing Corporation unit, where] the deposit and rent were lower. Cr Buck questioned whether such units were open for people without children. Mr McNeil admitted that some persons found it hard to get help from the Government. “Sometimes, if we send them to the Housing Corporation, we might as well send them to Hagley Park to park under a tree for all the help they are given,” he said. A staff report said that “those who are classed as emergency cases would not be helped in the long term by the relatively small relief provided by not having to pay a bond.” A lower rentj would also be needed, and furnishings provided.