Angie Warren-Clark Labour MP

Ever since I became an MP, the biggest issues that come my way are around housing, housing and - you guessed it - housing.

On Monday, the results of a government-commissioned independent stocktake on housing revealed the housing crisis the country faces is deeper and more entrenched than previously thought.

The report paints a sobering picture of the devastating impacts of the housing crisis, particularly on children

News that Tauranga has recently surpassed Auckland in terms of unaffordability will come as no surprise to most but, in particular, no surprise to Stephanie O'Sullivan and her team at Our Project Tauranga, who have been fighting for more support for our city's most vulnerable.

This government firmly believes that every New Zealander has the right to a warm, safe and dry home.

When people are homeless it strips them of their dignity and hope.

This is why I was pleased to support my colleague Jenny Salesa, Associate Minister of Housing and Urban Development, when she announced that the Labour-led government had approved funding for the Housing First programme in Tauranga.

The Housing First model is focussed on ending homelessness, not managing it. It places rough sleepers into long-term housing immediately, with no readiness conditions, and provides support services to help address issues such as mental health and substance abuse, so they can stay in their home.

This approach has worked successfully in Hamilton and Auckland, and I am confident that it will be a similar successes in Tauranga.