Family in ‘temporary’ re-housing for two years
Two years after a ‘‘temporary’’ move from her council flat, a Miramar mother is living in limbo in a house so small her son sleeps in the lounge.
Wellington City Council has hinted it was never told there was an issue and – now alerted by Stuff – will be in touch with the mother while its staff continue to figure out what to do with the series of empty council homes in the eastern suburb’s Tauhinu Rd.
Paula Te Kahika had lived in the house for 20 years when she was told to move out by the council. She was told the temporary eviction was necessary so that renovations could be completed.
Te Kahika and her two children were moved, all expenses paid, to another council-owned property in Miramar.
Her interim home is a lot smaller, meaning her son sleeps in the lounge. Questions to the council had been fruitless, she said. ‘‘The story began to change and we started hearing that we might not ever be able to move back in.’’
The council’s City Housing manager, Michelle Riwai, confirmed the original eviction of the homes, two years ago, was so the council could do refurbishments and was only meant to be temporary.
All moving costs were covered and tenants were re-homed according to their needs.
But once the homes were empty, it was clear ‘‘much more work’’ was needed and tenants were contacted to ensure their accommodation was adequate.
‘‘If not, we worked with them to find an alternative long-term property in our portfolio. Some chose to stay in their properties, some chose to transfer to another one. The choice was theirs.
‘‘We understand that our tenants’ circumstances change over time. We spend a great deal of time working with our tenants to make sure they have housing that meets their needs as their circumstances change.’’
But if City Housing was not aware of an issue, it could not fix it, she said.
The future of the Tauhinu Rd homes was in the air, with decisions still to come about whether the council