The Government has announced a suite of changes to emergency housing provision in Rotorua:
· Government to directly contract motels for emergency accommodation
· Wrap around social support services for those in emergency accommodation to be provided
· Grouping of cohorts like families and tamariki in particular motels separate from other groups
· One-stop Housing Hub for access to services and support to be established
The Government will directly contract motels in Rotorua to deliver emergency housing, making it easier for wrap-around
support services to be delivered to whanau and tamariki living in motels.
A taskforce from central government has been working with the Rotorua Lakes District Council and Te Arawa iwi to provide
better support and outcomes for people living in emergency housing motels and the community.
The Ministry of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is taking over responsibility for contracting motels used for
emergency housing, and ending the practice of mixed use motels.
“These moves will ensure whanau and tamariki are placed in accommodation with facilities better suited to their needs
with support to keep them safe and well, and provide a pathway to more permanent housing,” Housing Minister Megan Woods
said.
“These actions also help bring certainty to the Rotorua accommodation sector by having motels used exclusively for
emergency housing, and help ensure there is separate suitable accommodation facilities for domestic and international
visitors.
“Central government agencies have worked with council, iwi and NGOs to find solutions and we are investigating how this
approach could support better outcomes in other areas with high levels of emergency housing.
“We do not see motels as a long-term answer for housing, but we need to deal with the immediate crisis we inherited
while we build the medium to long term solutions by increasing housing supply,” Megan Woods said.
HUD and Kāinga Ora are assessing which of the current motels being used for emergency housing in Rotorua have facilities
suitable for emergency housing for whanau and tamariki. HUD is talking with suitable motels this week about contracts
for emergency housing.
Rotorua Lakes District Council has agreed to facilitate a temporary change in consenting to permit longer term stays for
motels assessed as suitable for emergency housing. It will take several weeks to assess and engage all motels.
The Ministry of Social Development and HUD are working with Te Arawa and service providers to establish a Housing Hub,
including contracting for wrap around support services for whanau and tamariki in motels. The Hub will be up and running
in the coming months.
“Once established the Housing Hub will be community led, and will provide a place where people needing emergency housing
can also have their holistic care needs assessed and addressed, with placements triaged into appropriate accommodation,”
Social Development Minister, Carmel Sepuloni said.
“Emergency housing is meant to be temporary solution for people who are unable to find accommodation but because of the
housing shortage we inherited, some people are staying in motels longer. We are committed to supporting them and helping
them find a long term, sustainable solution,” Carmel Sepuloni said.
More supply is critical to addressing housing in the long term and progress is being made. Kāinga Ora is working to
deliver around 190 additional public houses in Rotorua by 2024 under the Public Housing Plan.
Kāinga Ora is also intensifying its efforts in Rotorua to identify opportunities for building new housing to provide
more permanent homes.