Support alternative housing - tiny houses, van dwellers etc

Ok we cant build enoough houses for everyone but how about we get real about how people are housing themselves and help them to house them and their whanau. For example make councils allow tiny houses, secondary homes on existing properties and make safe places available for the increasing number of people living in vans and buses.

also lets have a serious go at micro housing for rough sleepers. Many countries are doing cheap, safe 'cubicle homes' for rough sleepers and I cannot understand why NZ won't even give it a try.

Why the contribution is important

A safe warm place to sleep is one of the main underlying drivers of wellbeing

by Bware on March 25, 2023 at 07:56AM

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Average rating: 5.0
Based on: 3 votes

Comments

  • Posted by Backman April 16, 2023 at 08:50

    Personally I am not clear why NZ doesn't support the concept of Micro-housing. I appreciate it could, in the worst case scenario, turn into a "slum" if not managed properly. I think a closer look at overseas experiences is warranted. Again, I am aware that not all rough living people want to be in any type of housing, but they seem to be in the minority. Also based on my own observations, a number of people living in caravans or older buses/motorhomes, parked in laybys or dedicated short term parking areas with ablution facilities take liberties beyond what is deemed to be acceptable. If they were to be given better managed facilities it would surely be a win-win.
    Maybe a better managed living situation would also be a foundation for improving health, both physical and mental.

  • Posted by nursealice April 22, 2023 at 09:20

    A simple way of doing this would be to allow people to use their Kiwisaver to purchase Tiny Homes, RVs, caravans and house buses. Councils could then provide and maintain parks which people could rent space in which provide power, Internet, ablutions and playgrounds. This would encourage community building and give health providers the ability to provide satellite clinics for mental and physical health, screenings and mobile acute care.
    This would also give people opportunities for seasonal employment and security of housing tenure, and remove pressure from the rental market.
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