Te Tuinga Whanau Support Services Trust director Tommy Wilson said Tauranga had a night shelter for the homeless, refuges for its battered wives but nowhere for the mothers who needed emergency housing.
"We've got five rooms in Te Tuinga. Sometimes, every room has been full of people looking for emergency housing. Most of those people usually end in tears looking for somewhere to stay.
"Is there an emergency housing crisis? Absolutely there is."
Many of the trust's clients resulted from a family unit breaking down. Often, the clients were not from Tauranga but had ended up in the city because of their situations.
"We've got mums trying to keep a roof over their kids' heads, keep them in school and put food in their stomachs."
His trust, together with developer Paul Adams, had created a project named Whare for Whanau with a goal to set up a "little community" of six or eight houses for emergency housing.
Ms Koha said the last two years had thrown her some big challenges. She was evicted from her rental home in January for rent and water rates arrears, which she is now paying back weekly after facing the Tenancy Tribunal.
Because of this, she cannot get a private rental and has been trying to get into a state house.
Ms Koha was employed as a community support worker for seven years, but gave up her job when life got on top of her.
"I've never been one to have my hand out, never in my life. I've given enough to the community ... but at the moment, I need to take care of myself."
A Ministry of Social Development spokesman said in a written statement: "We've met with Ms Koha and let her know the ways Work and Income can help secure housing. This includes assisting with an advance payment of benefit for bond, rent and other costs.
"Her housing need has been assessed, and she has been placed on the social housing register with a high priority rating. We have encouraged Ms Koha to look at all options when considering emergency housing, and longer-term options."
At the public meeting, Bay of Plenty MP Todd Muller told the audience the Government appreciated Tauranga did not have a lot of options for emergency housing.
"Clearly there is need for more," he said.
Mr Muller said Social Housing Minister Paula Bennett was undertaking a national review of existing emergency housing stock and exploring options to tackle the problem.
The Ministry of Social Development spokesman said it did not maintain an emergency housing waitlist in Tauranga separate to the social housing register, but as part of any request for emergency housing it would complete a social housing assessment.
Not all people accessing emergency housing would do so through the ministry, he said. Other options could include staying with friends or family or emergency rent assistance.
In December 2014, the Government initiated an emergency housing review that was due to be completed by the end of the month, he said. The review looks at all current funding for emergency housing and is focused on understanding demand for emergency housing and ensuring that support is targeted for those that need it most.
Angela Warren-Clark, Tauranga Women's Refuge manager, said the refuge was fielding three or four calls a week from women trying to find emergency housing, a number that had dropped since earlier in the year. In February, the Bay of Plenty Times reported that crisis line staff at Tauranga Women's Refuge were being screamed and sworn at and threatened by women needing accommodation, rather than shelter from abuse or domestic violence.
Applications on the social housing register by priority
Tauranga
Priority A: 73
Priority B: 66
Total: 139
Western Bay Of Plenty
Priority A: 17
Priority B: 11
Total: 28
- Ministry of Social Development
