The poster boy for Christchurch homelessness
June 29th, 2012 at 9:10 am by David FarrarThe media seem to have finally found a homeless person in Christchurch, to photo and highlight. The Press reports:
After nine months living in a tent in a burnt-out, red-zoned home, a Christchurch man believes those facing homelessness should become squatters rather than live in a car.
So is this man homeless because of the earthquake and the lack of accommodation?
The unemployment beneficiary and father of two moved into a garage last month to be closer to his children …
Michael, who has a string of convictions, said he had faced homelessness several times …
There is no doubt that there are housing pressures in Christchurch. When you lose several thousand houses, it is inevitable. But I’m not sure Michael is a great poster boy for the situation.
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June 29th, 2012 at 9:42 am
Lets see……a family with housing needs or a crim with a string of convictions…..tough choice for a landlord to make.
Vote:June 29th, 2012 at 9:44 am
As long as we don’t call it a ‘crisis’ everythng will be fine. Sharples used the ‘c’ word, but he’s very sorry now.
Vote:June 29th, 2012 at 9:51 am
There is a job dearth in Chch, so many people who lost careers as a direct result of the quakes have struggled to get back in to work (so many businesses and employers shut down). If you add a destroyed home or classified red zone, damaged or inhospitable (try living in a wrecked house in the current icy temperatures) people are stuck on low resources finding it hard to rent adequate housing thus the large no.s in garages and some in cars. It is a real issue for significant no.s of Cantabs.
Dibs to FotConchords for their huge live concert Chch this week, with all tickets to local charities. Nice.
Vote:June 29th, 2012 at 10:51 am
Sounds like Christchurchs version of Blanket Man……………..
Vote:June 29th, 2012 at 10:53 am
‘There is no doubt that there are housing pressures in Christchurch. When you lose several thousand houses, it is inevitable.’
Wow you are finally admitting there is a problem. I guess when a government minister says squat in the red zone rather than live in your car then it is hard to be in denial.
Vote:June 29th, 2012 at 11:29 am
Housing Corp is not helping the situation by evicting tenants from accommodation deemed damaged or unsafe and secondly the council themselves have evicted tenants from social housing for supposedly the same reasons. On face value it would seem that the earthquakes have presented housing agencies with an opportunity to “culturally” cleanse the city of vulnerable people who are unable to secure accomodation privately.
Vote:An enquiry into this matter is needed.
June 29th, 2012 at 5:46 pm
iMP, I disagree there is a “job dearth” in Christchurch. If you’re desperate for coin, there are plenty of labouring jobs going in construction and demolition. Plenty of overtime and no experience required. EQC also seem to be recruiting on a weekly basis.
Vote:June 29th, 2012 at 6:03 pm
To paraphrase Mr Sharples, didn’t he say better to live in a red-zoned house than die in a car? EH? Die? Everyone says he is a nice man but is he dim?
Vote:June 29th, 2012 at 9:33 pm
Oooooh look at all of the bleeding hearts. Any of you take this useless person into your own home – help and rehabilitate him?
Vote:Thought not.
Another nothing story about the ‘Welfare Dependent’