National calls for more emergency housing aid

WELLINGTON: National wants better support for those who are being put up in motels as emergency housing.

Living conditions in the motels have been described as dangerous and frightening and there are warnings about the potential for abuse and sexual violence.

It was under the previous National government that motels were first drafted into use as emergency housing.

Distressing revelations about life in emergency housing continue to emerge, including a woman being punched unconscious by another motel resident, putting her in hospital.

The 49yearold grandmother was left so terrified she refused to go back into any form of shared living.

National Party leader Judith Collins said yesterday restrictions placed on landlords were reducing the supply of rentals available and requiring the greater use of motels.

‘‘We need to make sure that we don’t punish private landlords so there are fewer houses to rent.

‘‘We warned the Government that some of the steps they were taking would be seen as landlord bashing and would end up with more people in emergency housing, which is exactly what happened.

‘‘What we have got at the moment is the Government is not putting wraparound services in place for people in emergency accommodation . . .

‘‘There’s no point expecting the motel owners to be social workers.’’

Motels should only ever be a temporary solution, Ms Collins said

The Government’s daily $1 million accommodation bill is split between emergency housing — about $900,000 a day and $100,000 for transitional housing.

Officials laid out the case last year against continuing motel use in such high numbers.

Emergency housing costs more and provides none of the extra services needed to help residents with the likes of budgeting or addiction. — RNZ .