March 14, 2024
Dream homes in emergency housing plan
Whanau Ora Commissioning Agency chair Merepeka Raukawa-Tait says the Government’s claim it is going to fix the housing situation by moving families with children out of motels and into homes isn’t currently realistic.
The former Rotorua Lakes district councillor says in her city motels were used because there was nowhere else for people to go.
She says the Government hasn’t thought through the issue, because everyone had urgent housing need when they were put in a motel by the Ministry for Social Development.
“Really they should have been talking to the funders, the providers, and the families and get a really good handle on what are there needs because you can’t just dream up houses and wish them into existence because the housing stock isn’t there right now,” Ms Raukawa-Tait says.
She says if housing doesn’t fit people’s needs it can make their underlying problems worse.