Latest news with #SalvationArmy
Otago Daily Times
12 hours ago
- Politics
- Otago Daily Times
Homelessness persists
Nobody expects solutions to decades-long poor housing provision in New Zealand to happen overnight, but it is hard to see coherence in the government's approach so far. It has made much of its success in getting families out of emergency accommodation. However, charities have become increasingly concerned tougher emergency housing rules and a two-strike warning policy for tenants have resulted in more people sleeping rough. This week The Salvation Army released a housing update with information sourced from other charities and more than 50 official information requests to local and central government. Among the sorry statistics cited was that there had been a 386% increase in emergency housing declines on the basis people had contributed to their homelessness in the six months since changes were made to the way the Ministry of Social Development supported people in emergency housing. Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka has disputed this calculation, saying there was a range of causes for homelessness, and one of the biggest was disconnection with families and whanau. Whatever the reasons for the number of homeless people which The Salvation Army suggests is now 1 in 1000, the government has been slow to accept there is an increasing problem. It has frequently fobbed off questions about it by saying the reasons for people being without homes are complex, and contrary to what charities said, that anyone who is in genuine need of emergency housing would be able to get help. In Dunedin, the plight of the homeless has been well documented by this newspaper in recent years, and the decision by Kāinga Ora earlier this year to scrap 10 housing projects which would have provided 120 houses in the city has been hard to understand. High rentals are also a problem, with Salvation Army Dunedin community ministries manager Captain Logan Bathurst describing the situation as bringing housing insecurity close to a tipping point. Median rents in the three months to May were down 0.3% nationally, but in Dunedin they were up by 8.7%. The government's lack of enthusiasm for councils building new social housing has also not helped those councils keen to do more. Former local government minister Simeon Brown went as far as saying if a council had a choice about whether to fix roads or build more social houses, it should be focused on fixing roads. It is not clear that this discouragement, combined with the binning of Kāinga Ora projects around the country and the loss of skilled workers is going to be offset any time soon by the supposed boost to other social housing providers, and such changes as moves to allow easier building of granny flats and pushing councils to free up more land for housing. Last week after the release of the "Homelessness Insights Report" which showed an ongoing trend of increasing homelessness, the government has sought advice from officials on further targeted interventions to provide help and support to those living without shelter. It has also sought recommendations around better use of existing programmes and was open to new ideas which would make an enduring difference. Listening to what communities are telling it rather than political posturing and denying its policy's possible contribution would be a good start. Laugh along with Brooke Let's give credit where it is due. Regulation busting Workplace Relations Minister Brooke van Velden has given us a laugh-out-loud moment in a wet dreary week for much of the country. According to Ms van Velden, some farmers fear their kids collecting eggs is illegal. The consensus is this claim is a cluck too far, but to Ms van Velden it's no yolk. She thinks egg collecting would fall under a regulation which states no workers under 15 can be involved in the manufacture or preparation of goods for trade or sale or any other work likely to compromise health and safety. Breaching this could result in a $50,000 fine. Ms van Velden will be "consulting with farmers and the agriculture sector on the thresholds for light chores children can do on farms, like collecting eggs, feeding small animals and watering plants, while ensuring safety is not compromised". We hope she will not be surprised if swearing is involved.
Epoch Times
14 hours ago
- Business
- Epoch Times
You Don't Need Those Clothes You're Giving to Charity, but You Might Still Need Your Calculator
You clean out your closet two or three times a year and donate the clothing to Goodwill or the Salvation Army. You probably take the receipt they hand you for tax purposes. In April, you deduct those donations and file your taxes. But what if you donate more often? If you exceed a specific dollar amount, that receipt won't be sufficient for the IRS. It has specific rules for noncash donations. Charitable Contributions Receipts According to one page on the IRS website, the written acknowledgment required to substantiate a noncash charitable contribution of $250 or more must contain the: name of organization description (but not value) of contributions statement that no goods or services were provided by the organization for the contribution You must fill out Form 8283 for noncash donations, regardless of the amount you donate.
South China Morning Post
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- South China Morning Post
Discover Hong Kong's Wan Chai: free literature-theme tour opens for registration
Free literature-themed guided tours of Hong Kong's Wan Chai have opened for registration, offering 90 spots in August for participants to explore the district's historic buildings and hidden gems through the eyes of local writers. Advertisement Co-hosted by the Urban Renewal Authority (URA), the Museum of Hong Kong Literature and the Salvation Army in Hong Kong, the two-hour tour sessions are free of charge and led by Wan Chai residents. The URA said on Tuesday that there would be six tours, each accommodating 15 Hongkongers, next month, following its initial six tours held earlier this month, which saw more than 900 sign-ups. 'These tours draw inspiration from a selection of works that capture the scenes and stories of Wan Chai in the old days, reflecting another side of the neighbourhood,' said Yuki Yu Hwan-gung, the museum's operations and marketing director. 'Participants can also hear first-hand accounts from tour guides, who are local experts, to learn more about stories and developments in Wan Chai.' Advertisement A key highlight is Spring Garden Lane, depicted in the novel The Drunkard, authored by the late Liu Yichang in the 1960s.
NZ Herald
2 days ago
- General
- NZ Herald
Sharp rise in homelessness prompts Salvation Army call for action
The Salvation Army sees a need for a co-ordinated response to the growing scale and severity of homelessness in Aotearoa. Photo / 123 rf Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech. The Salvation Army sees a need for a co-ordinated response to the growing scale and severity of homelessness in Aotearoa. Photo / 123 rf There has been a sharp rise in homelessness with one in every 1000 Kiwis currently without shelter, new national data shows. The Salvation Army is calling for a co-ordinated response to the growing scale and severity of homelessness after an increase across nearly all communities, with no area reporting a decline. The new findings are drawn from the latest survey conducted under the National Homelessness Data Project. This project is a collaborative initiative involving housing and homelessness organisations, including The Salvation Army, Community Housing Aotearoa, Housing First Auckland Backbone, Kāhui Tū Kaha, Christchurch Methodist Mission, DCM and Wellington City Mission. The group acknowledged the Government's work to date around housing and its increased engagement with the issue after the release of the Housing and Urban Development 'Homelessness Insights Report'.
RNZ News
2 days ago
- General
- RNZ News
One in every 1000 New Zealanders without shelter
File photo. Photo: forestpath/123RF New data released today by the Salvation Army shows 1 in every 1000 people in New Zealand is currently without shelter. The Salvation Army said other alarming trends included 14 in every 1000 people live in housing considered uninhabitable and that 57,000 women are experiencing homelessness. They said homelessness has increased across nearly all communities, with no area showing a decline. Housing has also become the second most pressing concern for young adults aged 18-34 while reported crimes against people who are homeless have increased by 81 percent. The survey involved frontline housing and homelessness organisations across the country, including The Salvation Army, Community Housing Aotearoa, and Housing First Auckland Backbone, Kāhui Tū Kaha, Christchurch Methodist Mission, DCM and Wellington City Mission. The data also included information obtained through OIA requests and other sources. Lieutenant Colonel Ian Hutson, mission officer for The Salvation Army Social Policy and Parliamentary Unit said while the group acknowledges the government's increased engagement with the issue around housing, a coordinated response was desperately needed. "We all need to be working towards having enough affordable housing for everyone to live with dignity, in a warm, safe, dry home. "Yet, what we are seeing across our cities and regions is the impact of our housing deficit: an unparalleled disruption that is affecting our most vulnerable people and whānau." The Salvation Army said difficulty in accessing emergency housing had added to the issue with a 386 percent rise since August 2024 in Ministry of Social Development (MSD) rejections citing that people had 'contributed to their own homelessness'. Hutson called on MSD to be more flexible and remove barriers to emergency housing. "These findings confirm what our frontline teams are seeing every day - more people facing housing stress, and many struggling to access the support they need. An immediate response from government is required to address immediate needs, as well as a longer-term strategy. At a very minimum, we need to ensure that all people who are experiencing homelessness can access a home, facilities and support. "There are clear opportunities for constructive change. By retaining and strengthening access to emergency housing, investing in proven short, medium and long-term support services, and, with government funding for more coordinated and consistent data collection we can better support people in need and work towards permanent solutions." The Salvation Army said following the survey they're urging the government to "increase the availability of good quality housing, facilities and support services across the country." "Review restrictions and criteria for emergency housing grants, allowing frontline discretion to avoid pushing people into homelessness. "Invest in evidence-based proven housing programmes that address both short-term need and long-term stability - including mental health, addiction, and social support services. "Fund and support regular national data collection through community-led research initiatives. "Commit to a long term, bipartisan national housing and homelessness strategy, grounded in Te Tiriti principles and supported by sustained funding." Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
