Published October 08, 2020 2:14PM
Safety fears as families forced to couch-hop or live in vehicles.
Emergency housing has run out in Gisborne and something must be done urgently, says Tairawhiti Beneficiary Advocacy Trust co-ordinator Shelley Hannah-King.
There is a desperate need for emergency accommodation but all providers are “full-up”, she says.
“The long-term plan is one thing but I need a ‘now plan’,” she says.
“People are living in overcrowded housing — living with friends or associates — and sometimes it is unsafe.
“Some of them have children so that’s what concerns me.”
Ministry of Social Development regional commissioner Annie Aranui said they were working with every accommodation supplier willing to engage with them and their clients.
“At times we need to support whanau to consider options outside of the region due to a lack of available accommodation.
“This is not our preferred option for whanau, however, it’s important people have somewhere to stay until a more permanent solution is found,” she said.
Ms Hannah-Kingi is seeing new people on a daily basis looking for somewhere to live, but because of there being no emergency housing available, she cannot offer a solution.
“I am worried about their safety. Some are couch-hopping or staying in their cars, but some don’t even have a car.”
Tairawhiti Beneficiary Advocacy Trust offers support by finding out what clients are entitled to as far as Work and Income (WINZ) is concerned.
The emergency housing situation has gradually gotten to this stage, she says.
“Normally people would get in contact and we would refer them to MSD, who would find them somewhere.”
The official number of people on the Public Housing Register to the end of June was 484 but by her calculations it was now as high as 550.
Public housing figures for the period to the end of September should become available soon.
“In the short term, we need more emergency housing providers here until more houses are built.”
There is a shortage of rental accommodation available and it is not only people on benefits struggling to find somewhere to live.
“We have working people who are on low incomes contacting us needing help finding housing, too.”
Those on benefits and low-income earners were also often unable to pay increasingly high rents.
“We need more transitional housing in our area because our emergency housing isn’t covering it.”
Cabins at parks one possible solution
One solution could be bringing in cabins and locating people at places like Showgrounds or Churchill parks.
“If we can accommodate thousands for R&V, surely something similar could be set up for people who really need it,” Ms Hannah-Kingi says.
The housing crisis in Gisborne is worse than in Hawke’s Bay when comparing population and emergency housing numbers.
Ms Aranui says the Government has a wider programme of work under way aimed at increasing the supply of public housing and improving housing affordability and supply.
The Ministry of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) leads the programme of work on New Zealand’s housing and urban development.
This includes planning, and with Kainga Ora - Home and Communities, delivering more public housing, transitional housing, and services to tackle homelessness, she says.
HUD is also working to improve housing affordability and supply for aspiring home owners.
by Kim Parkinson
Labour and National candidates for the East Coast electorate have put the blame on the other party for the country’s dire housing shortage while also outlining solutions.
“Labour is committed to ensuring every New Zealander has a safe, warm and dry home to call their own whether they rent or own, but it will take many years of sustained and continued focus to make that a reality,” Labour MP Kiri Allan.
“Our party has a five-point plan to maintain construction momentum during Covid-19 which includes removing barriers to the construction of new housing, delivering 18,000 new public and transitional houses by 2024 and supporting first home buyers with First Home grants, loans and KiwiBuild.
“We also have started a Government-led progressive home ownership scheme, we are supporting energy efficiency through a new mandatory energy efficiency certificate to support homeowners to reduce costs and regulating property managers to protect landlords and tenants.”
Some of these were long-term solutions but they also needed short-term and immediate solutions for those needing emergency and transitional housing immediately, she said.
“Labour is and has been strengthening public and transition housing to maintain our progress in tackling homelessness through the economic impacts of the global Covid-19 pandemic.
“Severe pressure in New Zealand’s housing market has built up after years of housing shortages being ignored by the previous National government.
“This has meant an increasing reliance on shorter-term solutions such as motel accommodation.”
National candidate Tania Tapsell said she had visited some emergency housing services in Gisborne and they were under significant pressure.
“Labour’s candidate promised to end homelessness in East Coast but it’s got worse,” she said. “The social housing wait list has increased four-fold since Labour took office.
“Labour has only built around 500 of the 100,000 KiwiBuild houses promised and rents rose by $50 a week, meaning a $2500 increase in costs for renting households per year. They can’t keep blaming the past and should own up to their failure to deliver housing for East Coast,” Ms Tapsell says.
When asked how National would tackle the worsening housing crisis in Gisborne, she said she was already working to find an urgent response to housing.
“I have met with real estate agents, builders and social service providers in Tairawhiti to find practical local solutions. I want to help people off the streets and into stable housing, including those with mental health issues or complex needs.
“National will address the state housing waiting list and enable state tenants to buy their own homes by progressing rent-to-own and shared equity schemes.
“We’ll also empower community housing providers to build more social houses by setting aside
$1 billion from Kainga Ora’s borrowing facility for them to access.
“The housing problem has got so bad in Gisborne that not even working professionals can find rentals. Gisborne desperately needs an increase in supply of homes.
“A National government will pass emergency legislation within 100 days to replace the Resource Management Act with new legislation that allows more houses to be built at a faster pace and require councils to permit more housing.
“We’ll also simplify rental regulations so that it is easier for landlords to comply to ensure they don’t leave the market and there’s enough rental properties to meet demand.”
Could marae help out, camping grounds?