September 2024 pānui
Kia ora koutou
It has been another busy month for the Coalition to End Women’s Homelessness as we continue to push for the system changes needed in data and evidence and policy funding, and shine a light on women’s experiences of living unhoused and unsafe.
We were pleased to engage across the political aisle this week, spending time with Minister for Social Housing Tama Potaka and Green MPs Tamatha Paul and Lan Pham where we discussed data and evidence and the impacts of emergency housing policies. We appreciate the time and attention we were given and in all that focus, we did not get photos! But we did get a sense that there is an increased understanding of the hidden nature of women’s homelessness and we will continue to relentlessly advocate to those in positions of influence.
Please encourage your friends, whanau and colleagues to sign up to our newsletter on the website, and help us spread the word about ending women’s homelessness in Aotearoa New Zealand.
NEWS AND VIEWS
Improving homeownership options for Pasifika
Homeownership is an enduring dream for so many New Zealanders, as it brings security for people, their future, and retirement.
Research and statistics show the growing Pacific population in Aotearoa share the same aspirations to own their own home as other New Zealanders but face particular challenges in achieving this dream, included large extended families living together, relatively low household income, suitable housing, cultural expectations and so on.
Homeownership simply feels out of reach and unachievable for so many.
However, Pacific Media Network’s Christine Rovoi reports how New Zealand Housing Foundation (NZHF) has been supporting Kiwis to move away from renting to homeownership since 2007.
You can read more here: Pacific housing: From renting to ownership
"There are home ownership options like shared equity, rent-to-own and leasehold that can help tens of thousands of people into home ownership.” - Greg Freeman, NZHF community engagement manager.
Emergency housing policies in the news
About 200 whānau who have left emergency housing but are unaccounted for are likely to be sleeping in cars, garages or overcrowded homes, according to Community Housing Aotearoa deputy chief executive Chris Glaudel.
Radio New Zealand’s Lauren Crimp reports the Government recently celebrated a drop in the number of households living in emergency housing but did not know where a fifth of them had gone.
The Ministry of Social Development figures showed between December and June, there were 32 percent fewer households living in emergency housing - dipping from 3141 to 2133.
Of those, 27 percent moved into social housing, 21 percent shifted into transitional housing, and 28 percent were receiving the accommodation supplement for a private rental – but where the remaining 20 percent had gone remained a mystery.
Read more here about where people are going after leaving emergency accommodation.
“I just don't see how they would be anywhere other than in somebody's garage, or in a car, or in another unstable situation, maybe back with an abusive partner, because they feel they have no other alternatives.” - Chris Glaudel, Community Housing Aotearoa deputy chief executive.
Silver splitters
In a recent RNZ article, Susan Edmunds spoke with “Helen”, who chose not to be identified, and is facing retirement with just $1000 in savings.
Helen, who relies on Superannuation to get by, spent much of her life caring for others, without pay.
Over the years, she looked after their autistic daughter and her elderly parents, as well as her in-laws, while her former partner worked full-time.
Returning to full-time work was impossible for Helen, with none of the childcare subsidies available then that modern parents can access, and she is advocating for social planners to have a greater awareness of women like Helen, who have contributed labour for free for much of their lives.
Helen is not alone, and there is a phenomenon called silver splitters, which refers to the increasing numbers of people splitting late in life.
Read more about this phenomenon in this article: Retiree calls for pension 'top-up' for those unable to save.
“Without affordable housing the outlook is dire, and they will need to keep working as long as possible.” – Liz Koh, Enrich Retirement planning expert.
Retirement housing gap
A new report commissioned by Te Ara Ahunga Ora Retirement Commission highlights how unprepared New Zealand landlords and property management companies are for the growing number of older tenants in the private rental sector.
Published in early August, was based on a survey of 709 landlords and in-depth interviews with eight property management companies and nine build-to-rent operators.
It provides key insights on the demographics, behaviours, attitudes, and considerations related to older tenants in the rental market.
A recent estimate by Te Ara Ahunga Ora based on current housing tenure trends suggests more than 600,000 New Zealanders aged 65 and over may be renting in the private rental sector by 2048, a 100 percent increase on 2022 levels.
One News reporter Anna Murray explores the report in her piece found here, and looks at what landlords can do to alleviate issues.
This research emphasises the work done by the Retirement Commission, the Christchurch Methodist Mission and the Selwyn Foundation to explore the experiences of older, single women in housing and healthcare. You can read the NZ Herald article here [paywalled].
From left to right: Image of Christchurch Methodist Mission Executive Director, Jill Hawkey, Selwyn Foundation CEO, Denise Cosgrove, and Retirement Commissioner, Jane Wrightston. Source: The New Zealand Listener / NZ Herald
POLICY AND POLITICAL INSIGHTS
Recent research from various corners of the globe is beginning to bring awareness and push policymakers to develop more effective housing and homelessness policies for people of different gender identities.
Research request
Denise Wilson, a Professor at Auckland University of Technology (AUT), is co-leading research on older New Zealanders’ health and wellbeing. This is part of a more extensive study funded by the Ministry of Social Development.
The information will be used to improve outcomes for older people who have been harmed or mistreated to enhance their health and wellbeing in the future.
If you are aged 55 years or older and identify as New Zealand European, Māori, Pacific, or as disabled, and have experienced harm or mistreatment as an older person by someone close to you, you are invited to take part by telling your story by either:
talking to a researcher in-person or online, or
taking part in wānanga or talanoa (Māori or Pacific culturally-based group meetings to openly discuss thoughts, views and experiences on a particular topic).
For more information, please contact: Professor Denise Wilson denise.wilson@aut.ac.nz 027 407 0022
CEDAW
The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women is holding a review meeting in October in Geneva. Review meetings are held every four years and countries that are signed up have the chance to present progress reports, while NGOs can present ‘shadow’ reports that either back up or present an alternative view to the official report.
Our very own Caroline Herewini will be heading to Geneva as a tangata whenua representative with the support of a shadow report from the Coalition to End Women’s Homelessness that focuses on Articles 1 (the general statement) and 12.1 (healthcare). A snapshot from the report is below:
“Tenure insecurity, or the risk of being moved on from or being unable to afford a rental - is at the heart of this rapid growth. Other factors include relationship breakdowns, property sale after separation, and limited affordable and accessible housing options, especially for older, single people.
When we put the gender lens on this, the pay gap that women experience throughout their lives means that they are even more at risk in precarious and unaffordable renting situations.”
Australia
A report from the Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute (AHURI) notes that despite evidence suggesting gender plays a key role in determining a person’s housing outcomes, no comprehensive approach to understanding gender and its role in housing currently exists in Australia.
Integral in the research is a Gendered Housing Framework, developed to facilitate gender-responsive data, evidence building, policy making and practice in housing and homelessness fields, as well as in relation to the design and production of housing supply, housing finance and real estate services.
It is helping to shift the policies and data from being gender blind to gender transformative by providing a mechanism through which gender-responsiveness can be assessed in future housing and homelessness policy and practice, as well as within consideration of data adequacy within census, survey and administrative data collections and collations.
Read the report: Gendered housing matters: toward gender responsive data and policy making.
Canada
Meanwhile, Canada’s National Housing Council, responsible for guiding the National Housing Strategy has recently announced its focus is on gender.
Women, girls, and gender diverse peoples experience some of the most severe forms of housing need in Canada and on September 4, 2024, the Council announced the Review Panel on the Failure to Prevent and Eliminate Homelessness amongst Women and Gender-Diverse People.
The panel brings light to this critical human rights issue and the three-member panel will collect evidence and testimony from the public and affected communities.
Grounded in a human rights-based approach, hearings are intended to create space for the public to share their experience of the systemic issue with the review panel and how it affects them, including its impact on their dignity and well-being, and the right to adequate housing.
The Coalition to End Women’s Homelessness advocates the establishment of a similar focus in Aotearoa New Zealand, to address housing needs and challenges for women, girls, and gender diverse peoples.
Image of Caroline Herewini, Kaiwhakahaere at Te Whare Tiaki Māori Women’s Refuge in Porirua.
We wish Caroline the best of luck at the CEDAW convention in Geneva! We know she will be a powerful representative of the mahi to end sexual and family violence and homelessness.
Thank you all for your continued support. We look forward to seeing you on our webinar.
He iti te mokoroa, nāna i kati te kahikatea
The grub may be small, but it cuts through the kahikatea
Vic, Helen, Jo, Caroline, and Jill
