3000 emergency housing requests rejected by Govt

About 3000 requests for emergency housing were rejected by the Government last year, nearly triple the number the year before. The opposition National Party says it is yet another demonstration of the country’s ‘‘severe housing crisis’’ and wants to know where those individuals ended up. Social Development Minister Carmel Sepuloni released the latest figures in response to a written Parliamentary question from National MP Louise Upston. They show 2997 applications were turned down in 2020, compared to 1032 in 2019. ‘‘The number of declines does not necessarily mean the client is left unsupported in their housing need as their accommodation need may have been met in discussion with their case manager through other support,’’ Sepuloni said. ‘‘For example, when a person approaches the Ministry of Social Development for assistance, there is a range of assistance available, which may have resulted in other support or referrals being provided.’’ Roughly 155,000 grants were approved in 2020 at a cost to taxpayers of nearly $300 million. – RNZ