A damp state house played a part in a toddler’s death this week, but it could have all been very different if we had a Warrant of Fitness scheme to ensure all homes are warm and healthy — or known as the Healthy Homes Bill.

‘Damp state house played part in toddler’s death’ – that was an actual headline in yesterday’s NZ Herald.

Emma-Lita Bourne was just 2 years old when she died from a “pneumonia-like illness” in August of last year. Coroner Brandt Shortland said this week that the condition of the State House where she lived with her family contributed to her death.

This could have been avoided if their rental home had required a Warrant of Fitness to ensure it was warm and healthy. The Healthy Homes Bill, designed to achieve exactly this, was recently voted down by a majority of just one vote in Parliament. But in the wake of Emma-Lita’s tragic death, this Bill is being reintroduced and together we can help ensure this need never happen again.

Sign and share to add your voice to a call for all Members of Parliament to vote in favour of the Healthy Homes Bill — and if they won’t commit to voting in favour of the bill we will challenge them to live in a cold, damp house for a week this winter: http://www.actionstation.org.nz/healthyhomes

We do it for cars so why not rental properties and state houses.

Emma-Lita’s family home was “very cold and not getting much sunshine”. There was no carpet in the house, only floorboards. When it rained the family had to use a bucket to catch the drips from a leak in the hallway ceiling. “I am of the view the condition of the house at the time being cold and damp during the winter months was a contributing factor to Emma-Lita’s health status.” the coroner said.

Latisha Bourne, Emma-Lita’s mother says she repeatedly asked Housing New Zealand to fix their family’s cold, damp home. She hoped no parent would have to go through the pain she has felt at losing a child.

It’s time to demand that all homes in New Zealand meet a minimum liveable standard and now is the moment to do it. The vote of the additional NZ First MP in Parliament after the Northland by-election would be enough to change the outcome on this, but we think every MP in New Zealand should take a stand on behalf of all our kids, or spend a week in their shoes, by living in a cold, damp state house for a week this winter.

Sign to demand all Members of Parliament to vote in favour of the Healthy Homes Bill —

Click here to sign the petition calling for the Healthy Homes Bill.

This won’t bring Emma-Lita back, but together we can help make sure no child or parent has to suffer this again.

Thank you for caring,

Marianne, Laura, Ryan and Nina at ActionStation

~ References ~

1. ‘Damp state houses played a part in toddler’s death’, NZ Herald

2. ‘Otara state houses ‘damp, full of cockroaches’ but Govt defends HNZ after death’ One News

3. ‘Housing NZ to trial WOF scheme’, HNZ website

4. ‘Health and cold damp houses’ Environmental Health Indicators NZ

5. ‘Govt must pick up healthy homes bill’ Labour Party press release

6. ‘Toddlers death proves need for WoF in homes’, Maori TV