The homeless
Sir,—How heartening to hear the Catholic bishops speaking out against the status quo and pleading for the needs of the homeless in our society (“The Press,” June 23). For far too long churches have taken the safe option and have often been themselves only safe harbours for the affluent. Christ aligned himself with the poor and oppressed and only by similar alignment can the present churches give witness in the modern world. We continually hear stories of the misery of homeless families; we know that many live in substandard conditions and that others are forced to stay in motor-camps because they cannot afford the initial bond on rental accommodation. We all know these things, yet we are continually told by those in authority that “there is no crisis.” When one is well fed and well housed oneself there is certainly no personal threat. That the crisis is there is only too apparent. — Yours, etc., JILL WILCOX. June 23, 1983.
Sir,—Mr Catanach of the Housing Corporation assures us that the evidence gathered in the homelessness survey notwithstanding, Christchurch people are adequately housed and this city has no housing shortage. This is good news for the families we know who are trying to make a home in motor camps, or coping with the stress and indignity of hopelessly overcrowded flats, or depending on the charity of relations for a roof over their heads: perhaps an answer to their housing needs is closer than they, or we, have been led to believe? At present they are caught in a dilemma: they either put up with desperately unsatisfactory temporary conditions, or if they can find, and afford, something a little better, they pay the price of dropping even further down the Housing Corporation’s priority list. How does the Housing Corporation define “adequacy” and is this definition adequate? — Yours, etc., TRISH CONSEDINE,
MARION DELPRADO,
MARGARET GRENFELL, JENNY GUNBY, HELEN KNOWLES, MARIE McCREA, JACKIE RIMINTON, MARINA BALL, Catholic Social Services. June 23, 1983.
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Press, 25 June 1983, Page 16
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329The homeless Press, 25 June 1983, Page 16
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