City may host NZ’s first wet house
New Zealand’s first ‘‘wet house’’ could be set up on the fringe of Wellington’s inner-city, in Mt Cook.
The proposed Housing New Zealand complex would accommodate homeless alcoholics and drug addicts, and allow the alcoholics to continue drinking, under roundthe-clock supervision.
Housing NZ is planning the redevelopment of its Rolleston St flats in Mt Cook, and it is understood the ‘‘high-dependency’’ home, Te Whare Okioki, could be part of its new complex.
The wet house project is being driven by Wellington City Council, in partnership with Housing NZ and the Ministry of Social Development (MSD).
Delivering a wet house was a key election promise for Wellington Mayor Justin Lester. He said the project was progressing well but there was still work to be done.
Rolleston St was close to the central city and support agencies, and it had the potential to be a strong site. However, that location was not yet guaranteed.
Lester said he was committed to reducing homelessness in the city, and Te Whare Okioki was one of the best opportunities to do so.
City councillor Brian Dawson, who holds the social development and housing portfolio, said no plans were set in stone but he confirmed Rolleston St was a site being discussed.
The redesign of the Rolleston St flats was seen as a good opportunity.
‘‘There is still a long way to go on this, because of the complexities and the various elements needed.’’
A lot of work was being done on how to operate Te Whare Okioki, and the best option would not be cheap because it included 24-hour supervision.
‘‘It is not just a wet house. It is a home for people who have highdependency needs.’’
In a letter sent to Rolleston St residents on Friday, Housing NZ said no decision had been made about the site.
‘‘We already provide homes for people who, in some cases, have complex issues and needs, which could also include alcohol dependency.
‘‘We want to explore how we can better connect them to specialist providers who can provide the right level of wraparound support on-site.
‘‘This is a supported living model, not a wet house, where people can access the help they need in a secure environment. Again, no decisions have been made, and we’ll keep the community updated on our plans for Rolleston.’’
In September, the council’s project documents described the resources needed as ‘‘moderate’’, and dependent on funding from MSD and other agencies.
MSD deputy chief executive of housing Scott Gallacher said no decisions had been made about funding at this stage, because the ministry’s staff were still working through the details of what was proposed.
‘‘Our focus is to bring ‘Housing First’ to Wellington by winter this year, a programme that is making headway in Auckland in housing the most vulnerable people with the greatest housing need.
‘‘These are often people who have been sleeping rough and who may be dealing with addiction or other mental health issues. We’re very excited about Housing First’s potential to make a real difference in Wellington.’’