News

Labour announcement and HNZ issues

15 November, 2011

Women’s Refuge has welcomed the announcement made by Phil Goff and Annette King yesterday to reinstate $700,000 last over the past 18 months within the family violence sector.

Labour announced their intention to reinstate the $382,000 Women’s Refuge lost from their baseline funding this year and the $300,000 in lost in contracts for Te Rito family violence coordinators and child advocates.

Chief Executive of Women’s Refuges, Ms Henare said “while political support for policies and laws to protect women and children from domestic violence is crucial so is their support for secure and sustainable funding so that agencies like Women’s Refuges can provide crucial safety and support in New Zealand communities”.

“This year’s cuts to our baseline funding were unprecedented. The cuts came at a time when demands for our safehouse services have risen by 12%. While many organisations over the past year have been asked to make cuts, Refuge has effectively been asked to do more for less and with a client base of women and children with extreme and complex needs,” she said.

Another issue that needs urgent attention involves the recent changes to state housing in New Zealand.

New criteria for deciding who gets state housing and how long a family can stay has the potential to stop women leaving dangerous relationships, says Ms Henare.

From July 1 this year changes to state funding criteria means that a family moving into a state house has only a three year guaranteed tenancy with strict penalties for breaches including changes in numbers of tenants in the dwelling or a significant change in family circumstances such as a new partner or marriage.

It used to be that when a tenant seriously breached their tenancy responsibilities she could immediately reapply for state housing. In October, this changed and a new ‘suspensions policy’ means tenants who have had their tenancy ended by HNZ will be declared ineligible for one year.

“While these breaches on the face of it may seem reasonable, in families where domestic violence is a factor nothing is very straightforward and any breaches need to be dealt with carefully and on a case by case basis” said Ms Henare.

“This looks to me to be a one strike and she’s out policy by Housing New Zealand and will make it difficult for women who leave violent relationships. Every night in New Zealand, 230 women and children spend the night in one of our safe houses. Having a safe, affordable and secure place for these families to live is critical for them to be able to put their lives back together,” said Ms Henare.

Media Contact: Sue Lytollis, sue@refuge.org.nz (Mob) 027 322 4688 or 04 801 2702