Housing First programme being expanded into Nelson

Nelson Mayor Rachel Reese has welcomed a Government housing initiative due to break ground in Nelson.

Housing Minister Phil Twyford has announced as part of Budget 2018 that both Nelson and Blenheim will be included in an expanded rollout of the Housing First programme.

It is part of a $63.4 million budget allocation to see the programme, which has been under way in Auckland since 2017, expanded to seven more regions over the next four years.

It is intended to reduce homelessness by placing an emphasis on getting people into stable housing first before other issues, including mental health, substance abuse and employment, are addressed.

Reese said the Nelson region had seen considerable growth, putting pressure on both housing prices and supply.

‘‘We have been working closely with the minister’s office and the Ministry of Social Development regarding Nelson’s housing issues, and our strong desire to address the complex needs of homeless people,’’ she said.

‘‘We greatly appreciate the minister’s decision to include Nelson as part of the Housing First Programme, as there is a real need in our city to help the growing number of vulnerable people who are unable to access suitable housing.’’

Twyford said both Nelson and Blenheim had people in insecure and transitional housing and receiving Emergency Housing Special Needs Grants.

‘‘A process is currently being worked through to determine the exact amount of funding and number of places the area will receive,’’ he said.

Former Labour candidate for Nelson Rachel Boyack said Labour had campaigned strongly on Nelson housing during last year’s election campaign.

The nuts and bolts of how the programme will work in Nelson – including which agencies will be involved, and how the Government’s state housing building programme will sit alongside it – are still to be determined.