Wait for accommodation stressful
A SYRIAN former refugee whose home was gutted by fire last week is concerned about his family’s current living arrangements while they wait to move into a replacement house.
Mohammad Saad Aldeen’s Wakari Housing New Zealand home was made unlivable after a fire caused by a cooking accident on Friday.
The kitchen and living room were largely destroyed and most items inside the house were smokedamaged.
He, his pregnant wife and two children are now staying with friends in cramped conditions in the central city.
His friends had six children, some of whom now had to sleep in a bed with two others.
‘‘I don’t want to outstay my welcome, because they are helping me. He thought it would be a few days,’’ Mr Aldeen said.
Housing New Zealand said it found a suitable threebedroom house for the family, which would be ready in three to four weeks.
Mr Aldeen did not want to keep asking others in the Syrian community for help as many were also in poor financial situations.
‘‘My neighbour was put in a motel by Housing New Zealand while they found him a house. Why can this not happen for us?’’
Mr Aldeen owns a barber business in Princes St.
He planned to open a Mosgiel branch, but the fire meant the idea was on hold, he said.
There was no time to find temporary accommodation in his price range, he said.
‘‘I had a friend who was a student and it took him months.’’
He hoped to be able to see the new house before they moved in as his wife had a nerve problem in her leg which made it difficult for her to walk up stairs.
Housing New Zealand (HNZ) area manager Gill Brown said it was working closely with Mr Aldeen and his family to ensure they were suitably housed.
This included searching for temporary accommodation for the family.
‘‘After the fire, he told us he would be staying with other family members while we looked at alternative housing options.’’
HNZ identified a suitable property which would require routine maintenance between tenancies.
‘‘This property is still tenanted but should be available in the next three to four weeks. Our teams will continue to support the family when they move into their new home.’’