Special housing needs in New Zealand

Press, 18 July 1980, Page 10

Special housing needs in New Zealand

By

OLIVER RIDDELL

in Wellington

The complexity of the housing system in New Zealand and the numerous interrelationship of factors within it means that no simple answers to housing problems are likely to be found, and no over-all and inflexible policy is likely to solve them, the recent National Housing Commission seminar was told.

In a paper — “New Zealand’s Changing Housing Needs” — Ms Judith Davey, of Urban Research Associates, summarised the overall problem facing those involved in housing policy. She said a relevant, and realistic set of policies was needed in view of changing housing needs which had been identified. She identified seven minority groups which had special housing needs: People living alone; unrelated groups; large, families; ethnic minorities; solo parents; those with emergency and

transitional needs; and handicapped people. Single-person households accounted for‘l6 per cent of total households at the 1976 census and increased by onethird during 1971-76. .The majority are elderly people, but the group also contains many adults of working age, unmarried, widowed, divorced or separated. Ms Davey says that there is now much more recognition of the rights of such people to be independent householders and the' growth of owneroccupied flats has helped meet their housing needs.

It is difficult to find an accurate figure for nonfamily households of more than one person, but they probably account for 3 per cent of all households. The most obvious manifestation of this type is the flatting group. Their nroblems are those of the private rental market, associated with the loss of inner-city housing

and lowering physical standards resulting from economic problems. Little is known about the social aspects of this type of demand.

Residential hostels also come into the Category of unrelated groups. Hostels are currently facing a crisis of rising costs and reduced demand. However, there are special cases where the need for hostels can still be shown clearly.

Communes are mainly a rural phenomenon in New Zealand but represent another style of group housing. In urban areas they are faced with problems of inflexibility in planning and building regulations. Ms Davey says that large families, with six or more members, represented 10 per cent Of households in'l976 — a lower proportion than

Single-person households and also a decreasing proportion. Large families on low incomes are likely to face housing problems and many are dependent upon incomerelated state rentals.

In practice, ethnic minorities consist mainly of Maori and Pacific Islander families. It is now generally accepted that their characteristics create special housing needs. Surveys seem to show that the housing preferences of Maori and Pacific island people are close to those of pakehas. But there is also a view that European-style housing forces conformity and stifles cultural identity.

Families with one parent absent were 6 per cent of the total in 1976 and were growing rapidly in number. Solo parent families tend to be over-represented in the lower-income groups and

among those with poorer housing. They also have greater mobility and a greater tendency to be in rented or shared'accommodation than the population as a whole. There are also many occasions when people may find themselves in housing difficulties — eviction, marital or family conflict, mental or physical illness, movement between centres or between countries. These circumstances often create a need for temporary accommodation as a base from which other problems can be tackled. Supportive services are often needed during the emergency phase. Finally, Ms Davey' says that it is now accepted that housing for handicapped people must aim to permit the greatest possible degree of independence. The “sheltered” housing concept has many similarities with transitional housing. The needs of the mentally handi-

capped and ex-psychlatric patients need to be considered too. 1

Fulfilling their accommodation needs is only one aspect of caring for special groups in the community. Many of these groups need special services. Subsidies by Government departments such as Maori Affairs, Social Welfare, Education and Health show support for these groups from the community.

Much wider bases .of funding will be needed if the Housing Corporation is to fulfil the same task. Any return will not be economic but in the betterment of an element of society, and this concept already underlies existing subsidies on the rental .of state houses. She says that it mav need to be extended to local authority housing and housing by special interest organisations too if it is to serve a similar purpose for non-family households.