Bible Study: Housing Support Crisis Response Report

A Companion Bible Study to the report Housing Support Crisis Response

The housing crisis in New Zealand has seen levels of homelessness and poverty that many New Zealanders have not previously experienced. It expresses itself in people’s increased dependence on foodbanks, motels, emergency and transitional housing. High rents lead to debt, food insecurity, unstable living conditions and high levels of child poverty.

It is nearly four years since The Salvation Army’s Beyond Renting report looked at the crisis in renting and described the ‘Matthew effect’ in housing in this country (see that report here). It is a term drawing from a biblical reference to Matthew 13:12 that says for those who have, more will be given, and those without will lose what little they have. Sociologist Robert Merton used the term to describe how in some social systems initial advantages accumulate through time. 

See the full text in the study below >>