‘Dire’ housing situation

‘‘The shortage of affordable housing, along with the social and economic impacts of Covid-19, have contributed significantly to the increased demand for emergency housing.

‘‘In Wellington, we have also seen particularly sharp increases in rent prices.’’

Wellington City Missioner Murray Edridge agreed those impacts pushed people – particularly families – into ‘‘absolutely dire’’ situations.

‘‘During lockdown, we saw people we have never seen before.

‘‘People who had stable work, and therefore were getting by – or just getting by – either lost jobs or lost hours.’’

Edridge said emergency housing was one part of a complex issue, with many people struggling on the brink of homelessness.

‘‘There is a whole underbelly of homelessness that is not visible; people living in inadequate accommodation, people living in overcrowded facilities, people living in garages and sheds.’’

Edridge believed, in some situations, emergency housing was not the appropriate response.

‘‘Emergency housing deals with the here and now but does nothing to help people change their circumstances.

‘‘You are not even maintaining the status quo. Because, as we have seen in the central city, it actually gets worse, because the circumstances are such that people’s behaviour changes.’’

Wellington City councillor Fleur FitzSimons, who holds the housing portfolio, said the city needed to do better for its residents.

‘‘It is clear there are a lot more residents living in emergency and transitional housing. These people deserve compassion and support to ensure they can live comfortably.’’