Listen Now: 
Click here for the full interview.
The head of the Mangere Budgeting Service hopes today’s announcement on more funding to address homelessness will spell the end of using motels to put up whānau.
The Prime Minister has flagged a $300 million package including more money for transitional housing and wraparound support.
Darryl Evans says he’s seeing fewer rough sleepers and people living in cars because of the Government’s initiatives so far, but high rents are driving up poverty and stress.
There still aren’t enough houses being built to meet demand, and hundreds of whānau have found themselves trapped in high priced motels that are not fit for purpose.
"One of the things that I do when I look at housing when we are trying to help someone into a home is I always think is it a place I would put my own mother or my own children in? Many motels across South Auckland are not fit for purpose and I wouldn't put a dog in them, let alone whānau," Mr Evans says.
Homelessness is a complex issue, with many people having drug, alcohol or mental health problems that need to be addressed alongside their need for a stable home.
!["p_facebook"]("/site/uma/images/story_img/facebook.jpg")
& !["p_twitter"]("/site/uma/images/story_img/twitter.jpg")
Copyright © 2020, UMA Broadcasting Ltd: www.waateanews.com
RELATED NEWS
