Report from RNZ
Some families in emergency housing are reporting their children are becoming emotionally distressed because of their living conditions. Demand for emergency accommodation has escalated last year with the number of emergency housing grants increasing by half.
Nearly 10,000 people were given an Emergency Housing Special Needs Grant between July and September last year. On top of that, the government contracted over 70 motels to house families and individuals. As of 30 November, they housed 1200 individuals.
But social services providers say the pace of demand is not slowing. And they have sounded a warning about the impact living in a motel is having on residents.
Some families in emergency housing are reporting their children are becoming emotionally distressed because of their living conditions.
(File photo) Social services providers are sounding a warning about the impact living in a motel is having on residents.
Photo: RNZ
Data showed nearly 10,000 people were given an Emergency Housing Special Needs Grant between July and September last year.
On top of that, the government has contracted over 70 motels to house families and individuals. As of 30 November, they housed 1200 individuals.
But social services providers said the pace of demand was not slowing.
And they sounded a warning about the impact living in a motel was having on residents.
Social housing in Ōtāhuhu.
Photo: RNZ Insight/Eva Corlett
The number of grants being given out by the Ministry of Social Development has increased substantially over the past couple of years.
Just under 4000 Emergency Housing Special Needs Grants were given out in September 2018.
Fast forward two years later, and that number is now just short of 10,000.
Between March and September last year alone, the number of grants shot up by 3000, as the Covid-19 pandemic led to a rush to provide everyone with a roof over their heads.
Jo Denvir, the chief executive of Lifewise, an Auckland-based social service which provides wrap-around housing support, said the need for social housing just keeps growing.