Summary

Natalia Cleland of Downtown Community Ministry (DCM) discusses the organization's work with marginalized and homeless individuals in Wellington. DCM has been providing support for 54 years and focuses on ending homelessness and advocating for the most vulnerable. They have government contracts for housing first and outreach services, but also rely on donations. The conversation explores the increase in homelessness in New Zealand, the challenges faced by those seeking housing, and the need for more affordable housing. The conversation explores the factors contributing to the homelessness crisis in New Zealand and the role of the Human Rights Commission in addressing the issue. It emphasizes the need for affordable and decent housing as a human right and calls for action from the government. The discussion also highlights the importance of social support services, such as the Sustaining Tenancies program, and the need for rehabilitation and counseling for individuals in the justice system. The conversation concludes with a reflection on the role of community groups and the importance of unity in addressing homelessness.

Keywords

Downtown Community Ministry, DCM, marginalized, homeless, Wellington, housing first, outreach services, government contracts, donations, homelessness, affordable housing, homelessness, housing crisis, social housing, human rights, government action, social support, rehabilitation, community groups

Takeaways

* Downtown Community Ministry (DCM) has been working with marginalized and homeless individuals in Wellington for 54 years.

* DCM focuses on ending homelessness and advocating for the most vulnerable.

* They have government contracts for housing first and outreach services, but also rely on donations.

* The conversation explores the increase in homelessness in New Zealand, the challenges faced by those seeking housing, and the need for more affordable housing. Housing is a human right and should be treated as such, not as a commodity.

* Government action and investment in affordable and decent housing is crucial to address the homelessness crisis.

* Social support services, such as the Sustaining Tenancies program, play a vital role in helping vulnerable tenants maintain their housing.

* Rehabilitation and counseling should be accessible to individuals in the justice system to address the underlying causes of their actions.

* Community groups and unity are important in addressing homelessness and providing support to those in need.

Titles

* Ending Homelessness: The Work of DCM

* The Need for More Affordable Housing The Role of Social Support Services in Maintaining Tenancies

* Addressing the Underlying Causes of Crime in the Justice System

Sound Bites

* "DCM, Downtown Community Ministry, is a small organization based in Wellington, like you said, working with the most marginalized, with the people who are rough sleeping and doing it pretty hard on the streets and couch surfing."

* "We went from about 15 staff to 50 in a couple of years and now around 60. So that contract with Housing and Urban Development, with HUD, for the Housing First Service is one of our bigger contracts."

* "It feels like there is something that has changed in New Zealand's economy or society that has caused an increase in people who are homeless or especially rough sleeping."

* "There was a real increase in the number of people on the social housing waitlist in December 2022."

* "We seem to be running our housing construction industry to serve a market rather than to serve the needs of the people."

* "Housing is a human right. It's not earned, it's not deserved, it's a human right."

Summary

Infrastructure New Zealand is an industry body representing infrastructure building companies and other stakeholders. They advocate for infrastructure projects that are best for the sector and the country. The politicization of infrastructure and the lack of stable funding have led to a significant infrastructure deficit in New Zealand. The government's approach to infrastructure has been inconsistent, leading to uncertainty and inefficiency. There is a need for stable funding and a menu of projects with political consensus. Local government settings and funding arrangements need to be improved to enable better infrastructure delivery. There is a growing interest in involving private capital in infrastructure projects to increase efficiency and reliability. The conversation explores the challenges and potential solutions for infrastructure development in New Zealand. The main themes include the role of public-private partnerships, the need for long-term planning and funding, the importance of coordinated resilience and adaptation planning, and the impact of natural disasters on infrastructure. The conversation also touches on the political challenges and the need for consensus and stability in infrastructure decision-making. The key takeaways include the need for political and local government reform, the urgency of addressing climate change and resilience, and the importance of learning from past disasters.

Keywords

Infrastructure New Zealand, advocacy, infrastructure deficit, politicization, stable funding, menu of projects, local government, private capital, infrastructure, public-private partnerships, long-term planning, funding, resilience, adaptation, natural disasters, political challenges, consensus, climate change

Takeaways

* Infrastructure New Zealand advocates for infrastructure projects that are best for the sector and the country.

* The politicization of infrastructure and the lack of stable funding have led to a significant infrastructure deficit in New Zealand.

* There is a need for stable funding and a menu of projects with political consensus.

* Improvements are needed in local government settings and funding arrangements to enable better infrastructure delivery.

* There is a growing interest in involving private capital in infrastructure projects to increase efficiency and reliability. Public-private partnerships can be an effective model for infrastructure development, but the government needs to refine the risk allocation and bidding processes.

* Long-term planning and funding are crucial for achieving better infrastructure outcomes and intergenerational equity.

* Coordinated resilience and adaptation planning are necessary to address the challenges of climate change and natural disasters.

* Political challenges and changes in government can disrupt infrastructure projects, highlighting the need for consensus and stability in decision-making.

* Reforming local government settings and improving the relationship between central and local government are essential for effective infrastructure delivery.

* Addressing climate change and building resilience should be top priorities in infrastructure planning and investment.

Titles

* Advocating for Better Infrastructure in New Zealand

* The Need for a Menu of Projects with Political Consensus Reforming Local Government Settings

* The Need for Long-Term Planning and Funding

Sound Bites

* "New Zealand for the last 30, 40 years, 30 years has been quite s**t at building infrastructure."

* "The further something is, or at least the funding is from politics, the more reliable the outcome is."

* "The further you get away from government funding, the more efficient and reliable these projects become."

* "Deliver the outcomes that all of us as citizens of a first world country expect."

* "The issue is not the funding itself. It's the privatization."

* "It incentivizes better asset maintenance. You have that longer term view and can achieve better outcomes."