"It's just more evidence of this Government running down of state housing and social housing in the midst of a housing crisis." "As discussed with ministers in recent months, this departs from the attempt to reach a target of 65,000 social housing places," the report says. Social Housing Minister Paula Bennett said in the same press statement: "This won't reduce the number of social housing places available - indeed these will increase by 3000 by 2017-18." The Government has abandoned a target of increasing the numbers of subsidised social housing places to 65,000, despite growing reports of families living in cars and garages. A pre-Budget report released by the Treasury today shows that the target for social housing places has been cut from 65,000 to 64,100, apparently for fiscal reasons.

Source: New Zealand Herald July 14, 2016 06:59 UTC