– systemic (homes that we can access without discrimination), physical (homes that meet everyone’s access needs and support disabled people to live fully in our communities), and financial (being able to afford access to a home). A decent home provides security of tenure Security of tenure means we have the right to feel secure and stable in our homes, and not worry that we might suddenly be evicted for no good reason. There should be protections for residents in relation to eviction, discrimination, harassment and other unfair treatment. No evictions should result in homelessness. Tenure, which has a cultural dimension, takes a variety of forms, including Māori systems of land tenure, owner-occupation, rental (public and private), individual and collective, cooperative housing, social housing and emergency housing. A decent home is located so we can participate fully in society Decent housing needs to be in places that allow access to education and childcare, employment opportunities, and healthcare services, as well as supermarkets, accessible transport routes, marae, and other social facilities. Houses that are too far away from these opportunities and services make it hard for people to live and participate in society. Our homes should also be protected from environmental and climate change impacts. Location can make a huge difference, especially as Aotearoa begins to experience sea level rise, worse and more frequent flooding, and other climate change-related weather events. 4 Human Rights Commission A decent home has access to core services and infrastructure Our homes must have essential facilities such as clean running water, power, sanitation, internet access, access to emergency services, and other core services and facilities. These services are essential for our health, security, and dignity. A decent home reflects respect for cultural diversity Our homes should enable and support people to live in accordance with their cultural ways of being, such as intergenerational living or papakāinga on whenua Māori. This is particularly important for a country aspiring to inclusive multiculturalism grounded on Te Tiriti. Many of our communities, including Māori and Pacific peoples, have models of living that include whānau or ‘aiga (extended family). Our homes and housing system need to reflect our cultural diversity and different ways of living. Our housing system also needs to respect cultural diversity in other ways, such as ensuring that regeneration or new housing projects do not sacrifice places of special cultural significance. Accountability and participation are key features of a human rights approach to housing. Accountability serves the purpose of evaluating the effectiveness of housing initiatives. It enables us to identify best practices that can be replicated and expanded upon while also highlighting areas that are not delivering desired outcomes. With accountability we can ensure that progress is made and positive changes are implemented.