a progress report on the petition and hikoi
Kāpiti ‘Hikoi On Homelessness’ Highlights The Housing Crisis
Motorists tooting support outnumbered marchers highlighting the plight of Kāpiti’s homeless yesterday, but their cause was strengthened by Cr Sophie Handford walking the walk with them.
And, Felicity Stacey-Clark, reports the ‘Hikoi on Homelessness’ made its mark on public consciousness by highlighting the housing crisis threatening local society.
About a dozen people paraded down Kapiti Road from McLean St to the Paraparaumu Library, drawing a chorus of supportive toots from passing cars.
The Hikoi on Homelessness was organised to raise awareness of the shortage of affordable accommodation in Kāpiti — with large numbers of homeless being put up in motels and other temporary accommodation because they can't find suitable or affordable rental homes.
“Not just a big city problem’
Speakers at the rally at the Library pointed out that homelessness is not just a big city problem.
They spoke about living in emergency housing for more than a year; and being moved on at short notice to another motel because their motel was taken over as a MIQ facility.
Others pointed out the difficulties in accommodation which was not designed to cater for people with disabilities, or for family groups.
Several spoke of the toll taken on the mental and physical health of the displaced people. One person spoke of five moves in three years between properties that landlords had then rented out as long term.
It was also pointed out that younger homeless people were often missed in statistics because they were couch surfing, living in cars, or sleeping rough.
Councillor Sophie’s support
Councillor Sophie Handford joined the marchers from the start, while local MP Terisa Ngobi and Mayor K. Gurunathan met the group at the Library.
A petition is being circulated to raise the issue at Parliament, and those gathering were also urged to support a KCDC survey on homelessness in Kāpiti.
This is available online from the KCDC site — or from the Kāpiti Libraries and Council offices.
kapitiindependentnews.net.nz...
Today’s Mind-Bender is the Last of the Year! Can You Guess It Before Everyone Else? 🌟🎁🌲
I dance in the sky with green and gold, a spectacle few are lucky to behold; I’m best seen in the south, a celestial sight—what am I, lighting up the New Zealand night?
Do you think you know the answer? Simply 'Like' this post and we'll post the answer in the comments below at 2pm on the day!
Want to stop seeing these in your newsfeed? No worries! Simply head here and click once on the Following button.
Driven On The Akatarawa Rd Lately?
If so, its good to know you are still alive and reading this.
We have a function to go to over Christmas up that way and having heard a few hairy stories about the road, I went up there on Thursday to check it out. The road's ok, narrow and winding, but not much worse than a Wellington hill suburb. What was pretty scary was the behavior of other drivers. Three vehicles heading the other way at speed would have crashed into me if I hadn't been pulled off the road. I had pulled in to check the address when a truck came flying past, taking up all of the narrow road at speed. There is no way the driver would have been able to stop had they come around the corner immediately in front of me. The other two drivers came hurtling past as I had turned in to turn around and come back down the hill. They were also driving at speed and taking up most of the road. Coming back down I passed another car coming up and estimate that the safe speed to pass another car was about 30-35 kms.p.h. So, now we're thinking, do we go to the function or not.? Feels a bit like we're taking our life in our hands going up there. Drivers appear to be overconfident, and they are courting serious injury.
Loading…
