Tenant angst at housing cutbacks

Cutbacks at a men’s hostel have caused shock and disappointment in Palmerston North.

The Salvation Army confirmed its men’s hostel in Lockhart Ave, Milson, is reducing its accommodation in a matter of weeks.

Lieutenant Colonel Lynette Hutson, Salvation Army national manager of addiction and supported accommodation services, said consultation had concluded and the number of beds at the Lockhart hostel would be reduced ‘‘in weeks, not months’’.

She said the Salvation Army would continue to provide supportive accommodation in the community, and the reduction resulted from meeting health and safety and financial obligations.

The hostel, which is owned by Housing New Zealand, has a main building with two smaller units. About 12 beds would be cut, leaving seven beds available for exprisoners and men needing emergency accommodation.

The Salvation Army’s Cloverlea site, with five beds, would also stay open.

Two part-time and two fulltime staff positions would likely be disestablished, she said.

A long-time hostel resident, who did not want to be named, said he was shocked, angry, frustrated and saddened by the news.

‘‘It’s not a good look for the Salvation Army to make people, in theory, homeless. In winter, of all times of the year.’’

He said he wanted someone to call a community meeting to do something about the issue.

MASH Trust chief executive Carol Searle said the reduction of beds was ‘‘extremely sad’’. She said MASH had had a strong relationship with the accommodation site for about two decades.

Men had received help from MASH for a range of things, including drug and alcohol treatment, she said.

All Saints Church parish priest John Hornblow said, from a community point of view, the news was ‘‘disappointing and concerning’’.

Hornblow said the accommodation work the Salvation Army had achieved over the years was invaluable, and it was disappointing to lose that service in the community.

‘‘We are very short of accommodation for people who are marginalised in our community already.’’

Hutson said their primary concern was for the wellbeing of the residents and they were ensuring residents had ‘‘safe, secure and suitable accommodation to go to’’.

‘‘We want our residents to know that they are important. They are the No 1 consideration right now.’’

She said the cuts were a result of a restructure and realignment process.

‘‘I would be wrong to say there wasn’t a financial element to this but it’s a much bigger picture. It’s about health and safety.

‘‘It’s about professional standards and service delivery and it’s about keeping a safe environment for the residents and for the community.’’