October 21, 2014
Home ownership vital
The head of a far North Maori social services provider says Maori need to buy rather than rent their homes.
Te Korowai Trust has run home ownership courses and helped more than 300 whanau into homes, including many former state houses shifted up from Auckland.
Ricky Houghton says the rate of Maori home ownership is at a historic low.
Building more state houses or selling existing stock to community sector social housing providers or iwi as the Government plans to do won’t fix that.
"I want to try and get 10,000 homes for Maori to own and to keep and that's their own homes, they are not state homes. With the way that's been proven today, the goal posts moved and Maori will find themselves at another point in the future where the political environment will determine their housing situation. I would much rather see 10,000 Maori homes built fullstop for Maori " he says
Ricky Houghton says the state will always have a role in housing, especially for vulnerable populations including those with disabilities or special needs.
FOR THE FULL INTERVIEW WITH RICKY HOUGHTON CLICK ON THE LINK
https://secure.zeald.com/uma/play_podcast?podlink=MjMyODQ=
Copyright © 2014, UMA Broadcasting Ltd: www.waateanews.com