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Charity backs National's senior housing pledge, seeks more funding

The Christchurch Methodist Mission supports National's election pledge to reserve more affordable housing for seniors, but says more funding is needed to avoid leaving other people behind.

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Three people sit beside raised garden beds in a housing courtyard, with a lawn and outdoor furniture behind them.
A courtyard at Abbeyfield housing for older people, which is among the housing types discussed in National's proposal.

The Christchurch Methodist Mission has backed National's election pledge to reserve more affordable housing for seniors, while warning that more funding is needed to avoid leaving other people behind.

Under National's plan, at least 20 percent of Housing Flexible Fund places would be earmarked for seniors. The allocation would cover both social housing and affordable rentals, including housing provided by Abbeyfield.

The mission's strategic advisor, Jane Higgins, described housing insecurity among people aged 65 and older as a crisis.

Higgins cautioned that reserving funding should not take housing away from others, including families with children. She said the aim should be to reserve a share of a larger fund so that everyone needing housing could obtain it.

The mission said the number of people over 65 on New Zealand's social housing waitlist rose by 34 percent between 2021 and 2025.

It called for greater investment in the Housing Flexible Fund and a long-term commitment across political parties to build more affordable and social housing for people priced out of the rental market.