$54m to tackle homelessness
The Government has announced a $54 million housing accessibility and services package to prevent and reduce homelessness.
Associate Minister of Housing Kris Faafoi and Minister of Social Development Carmel Sepuloni announced the package in Wellington yesterday. It will fund initiatives to support at-risk individuals and wha¯ nau to stay in their homes while also providing additional wraparound services.
‘‘These initiatives are part of this Government’s pledge to end homelessness, and improve the wellbeing of New Zealanders and their wha¯nau through safe, warm, dry homes,’’ Faafoi said.
‘‘As part of our work on homelessness we are expanding the Sustaining Tenancies programme.
‘‘It ensures that tenants who may be at risk of losing their tenancy receive practical support to help them get back on track.’’
Sustaining Tenancies has been funded $6.6m over two years to support up to 550 at-risk households per year. The initiative provides nonfinancial assistance that could include budget advice, property maintenance, and mental health and addiction support.
‘‘MSD has identified a distinct group of people that face a range of complex issues that are a barrier to finding and keeping a home of their own, such as mental health and addictions, criminal history, or family violence,’’ Sepuloni said.
‘‘We will be supporting these people, building their resilience and wellbeing, to break the cycle of homelessness through targeted onthe-ground support. ‘‘The Government is investing $31m over the next four years for 67 intensive case managers and navigators to work with these people and a further $16m for increased social services.’’
The Ministry of Social Development’s intensive case managers will provide one-on-one support for clients.
Navigators will be contracted from local community organisations and will provide extra support when required. They will work with health providers, government agencies and non-government organisations.
The initiatives will be phased in from October this year.
The services will be available nationwide but will focus on areas most affected by homelessness: Northland, Auckland Hamilton, Rotorua, Napier, Hastings and Lower Hutt.
Wellington Downtown Community Ministry (DCM) executive director Stephanie Mcintyre said the new funding for initiatives like the Sustaining Tenancies programme would go a long way to help keep people off the streets.
DCM has been involved in a twoyear trial of the Sustaining Tenancies programme and has assisted 100 tenants, though the trial reached further when family members were taken into account.
‘‘We know that studies tell us that it costs about $65,000 for a person to remain homeless and for an investment that is more in the order of $5000-$10,000, we can support people who sometimes have lengthy backgrounds of homelessness and who are holding on by their fingernails to their flat,’’ Mcintyre said. ‘‘This makes the difference to enable them to not only sustain their flat but thrive in their life.’’