$300 million more for emergency housing

Stuff reports:

A $300 million funding injection for emergency housing will provide another 1400 places for vulnerable Kiwis, Social Housing Minister Paula Bennett says.

The Government has announced the funding boost for more emergency housing places, extra support for tenants and more frontline staff.

Bennett said the $303.6m package would run over five financial years, including:

– $120m in capital funding to buy build or lease properties for emergency housing, with $100m as a loan to Housing NZ, to be repaid within 10 years;

– $71m in rental subsidies;

– $102m for providers to support, stabilise and help tenants into long-term housing;

-$10.4m for more dedicated frontline staff at the Ministry of Social Development.

Bennett said the funding boost would provide up to an extra 1400 places at any one time, with 600 of those in Auckland and the other 800 in “areas of high demand” around the country.

Good to see action on treating the symptoms – which is needed. But also need to do more on treating the causes.