The Government has delivered a further 1,000 transitional housing places promised as part of its work to reduce homelessness.
Housing Minister, Megan Woods said the additional transitional homes were delivered at pace and built on the momentum achieved from the first 1,000 delivered in February 2021 under the Aotearoa New Zealand Homelessness Action Plan.
“This brings to nearly 3,000 (2,938) the number of transitional houses delivered since we came into Government,” Dr Woods said.
“Transitional homes provide warm, dry, short-term housing for individuals and whānau in urgent need, with wrap around health and welfare support services to help them move into long-term housing options.
“These places were delivered across the country with particular focus on regions with increased needs for housing support as part of the wider focus on preventing and reducing homelessness.”
The Associate Housing Minister (Homelessness,) Marama Davidson says transitional housing and its services provides people a pathway towards stable housing and reassurance that there will always be support.
“The intensive support provided means people get the help they need to maintain secure accommodation for themselves and their whānau,” Ms Davidson said.
Of the additional 1,000 transitional homes, 70% are newly constructed homes.
Dr Woods said the Government was committed to delivering more transitional housing under the Public Housing Plan 2021 – 2024 to support families and whānau. Te Tūāpapa Kura Kāinga – The Ministry of Housing and Urban Development and Kāinga Ora is making good progress with more transitional housing planned for delivery over the next year, she said.
“We are working with councils, iwi and others based in the community to develop and implement joined up local solutions.”
On a visit to Hastings today, Minister Woods is also turning the first sod on one of three new developments in Flaxmere on Hastings District Council land that will yield around 150 affordable homes in total.
These developments demonstrate what can be achieved when central and local government work together and with iwi, through the Hastings place based approach, the Minister said.
Hastings District Council has offered up three previously empty sections of council-owned land in Flaxmere for affordable housing.
The developments received $11.5 million through 2020 ‘Shovel Ready’ funding to support infrastructure costs.