New Zealand has a housing problem – we all know that.  It’s in the news daily, and Dunedin is no exception.  My own story runs parallel to these discussions; I was in refugee camp as a child for seven years. In 1997 I came to New Zealand.  Initially, we were shifted to Hamilton, but within 2 weeks we had returned to Auckland. Lack of housing is overwhelming. 
We can’t keep bringing new citizens to Dunedin when there are no houses for them to live in. I am not against bringing refugees – I share this background. But because of our housing crisis, people are moving between one stressful life and another. 

Right now, there are five new citizen’s families in Dunedin living in motels. And many New Zealand families, too.   In fact, this year, eleven families from Dunedin returned to Auckland mostly because there were no houses for them!  

On top of the housing crisis, there is another big issue to consider: these new citizen’s  have had the most traumatic lives.  Most have experienced violence, trauma and familial death and then had their lives stagnate for 5-10 years in refugee camps.  They are then expected to integrate as normal citizens into the New Zealand community.  
Collaboration over time, between agencies and families, is a viable answer. This issues won't be solved overnight but if we collaborate and work together, they can be within this decade.  

 
I propose that for every new Citizen family we bring to New Zealand, we build two houses. One for locals who are in need, and one for a new citizen family to move into. If the Dunedin City Council, WINZ and HousingNZ all contribute 25%, I want to raise 25%, in collaboration with other organisations nationally and internationally.  
Please support this cause!