Housing plan

Press, 9 October 1982, Page 6

Housing plan

The Catholic Church has' been asked to consider a five-point plan for easing the housing shortage. The plan, prepared by the Christchurch-based Catholic Commission for Evangelisation. Justice and Development. was tabled at the recent New Zealand Catholic Bishops'Conference. The recommendations were:. That the Church review its investments. designating more funds for housing; That funds be made available for bridging finance and bond, money to low-income earners: That church buildings be evaluated for use as emergency housing;That the Church review its tenancies to ensure that accommodation is being provided at a just rent and that the tenants are ‘•among the most needy of society "; and

• That the Church’s social services policy be redirected from the elderly, receiving universal superannuation, to one-income families. The report also urged the bishops to issue a statement publicising the housing shortage, and to seek changes in Government policy. Among the changes recommended in the report for negotiation are that the Government make “no-interest loans'"' available to elderly persons wishing to sell their homes and buy flats. The loans could be repayable by the sale of the unit on death, the report said. It also recommended that the Government be asked to consider raising' the maximum available from the Housing Corporation on first mortgages, and increasing the upper income level to qualify for corporation loans.