Partnership to provide rental housing for homeless

A new partnership between Christchurch City Council and the Christchurch Methodist Mission will help to provide rental housing for the city's homeless.

The Council has agreed to allocate $130,000 from its Social Housing Fund to help the Methodist Mission find private rental accommodation for homeless youth and families.

The money, which is not drawn from rates, will be used primarily to meet the gap between the affordable rent that tenants' pay and the market rent.

Deputy Mayor Vicki Buck says the Council is committed to working with local agencies to help people off the streets and into housing.

"We have a growing number of people in our city who have no way of finding safe and secure housing to live in, which, from the Council's perspective, is unacceptable.

"These people are vulnerable, with very real and immediate needs, and there is a clear-cut opportunity for the Council to help.

"The partnership with Christchurch Methodist Mission provides a way for homeless youth and families to access affordable rental accommodation now, with support services in place to help them into more permanent housing," says Deputy Mayor Buck.

Christchurch Methodist Mission will work with the Ministry of Social Development, Youth and Cultural Development, community housing providers and other social agencies to help tenants into long-term accommodation, such as social housing.

"Everyone has a right to warm, secure and affordable housing," says Jill Hawkey, Executive Director of the Christchurch Methodist Mission.

"Post-earthquakes, rents have risen to such a level that they are simply out of reach for an increasing number of people.

"While this project won’t solve the housing crisis that exists in Christchurch, it will mean that some of our most vulnerable young people and families will have a place to call home," she says.

Christchurch Methodist Mission has proposed to initially rent six houses – three for young people and three for homeless families with young children.

Ongoing support services for tenants will be provided by Youth and Cultural Development and the Methodist Mission.

In December last year, the Council resolved to work with the NZ Coalition to End Homelessness, other city councils, central government and health providers to work towards addressing the growing problem of homelessness in Christchurch.

The Council also partnered with the Christchurch City Mission and the Government last year to help fund the Family Emergency Accommodation Project.

The former City Mission building at 271 Hereford Street is currently being renovated to provide one three-bedroom unit and two two-bedroom units for vulnerable families transitioning from temporary to more permanent homes.

The units are expected to be completed in September.

ENDS

© Scoop Media