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Source: ONE News -
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The government has swung into action over the housing crisis, after it was revealed that the situation is getting much worse.
ONE News revealed on Monday that over 1,000 families in South Auckland have no other choice but to live in a garage. Recent figures show more than 2,000 families in the region are currently on a Housing New Zealand waiting list.
The Housing Minister says the situation is much more serious than he thought, and he intends to increase state houses in the area.
"We certainly do need to address it, these people deserve to live in decent housing and we are going to provide the opportunities for them," says Phil Heatley, Housing Minister.
The situation has reached this point primarily due to sky-high rents and mortgages.
Housing New Zealand says there are more than 1,300 families in South Auckland who are desperate to get into a state house.
The total waiting list in the area stands at 2,200 families and most are unlikely to get in.
But the new government has done a complete turnaround on its state housing policy and its plans to cap the number of state houses.
"I've seen how serious the situation is, the waiting list, these people in South Auckland. We need to balance an increase in the number of state houses in the area and also better utilise the current stock," says Heatley.
He promises the focus is going to be on South Auckland. But in Mangere words are cheap and they will believe it when they get a decent roof over their heads.
