Drugs and gangs: Problems revealed as more children put in emergency housing
26 Feb, 2021 05:00 PM
8 minutes to read
The number of people in emergency and transitional housing has risen but is not fully known. Photo / Getty Images
The number of children in emergency housing is growing - and one expert says they re being exposed to drugs, gangs and disorder. The situation is leaving nearly 250 children across the region feeling unwanted , anxious, with growing trust and mental health issues and falling behind others their age, according to people familiar with the problem.
Ministry of Social Development figures released to NZME under the Official Information Act showed the number of children in emergency housing in Rotorua jumped from at least 227 in June to at least 246 in September.