Share of $20.5m to help Tauranga's homelessness problem

Housing and Urban Development Minister Phil Twyford, pictured in a previous visit to Tauranga, is promising big money to help with homelessness. Photo/file

Tauranga is among several regions in line to receive a share of $20.5 million to help tackle the city's homelessness problem.

Housing and Urban Development Minister Phil Twyford has today announced a $100m investment to help support people in urgent need of housing this winter throughout New Zealand.

"We're pulling out all the stops ... We're also investing heavily in the future of the Housing First programme to support our most vulnerable homeless people and families," Twyford said.

The Ministry of Social Development will work with providers and communities with a $37m investment to urgently increase housing supply this winter.

"By the end of winter, we will have more than 1500 additional transitional, public and Housing First places, compared to the end of last year.

The Government has earmarked $63.4 million of new operating spending in Budget 2018 to expand and sustain Housing First services for more than 1450 households over the next four years. This will:

* Boost funding for on-going services for more than 900 households in the Housing First programme in Auckland, Christchurch, Tauranga, Hamilton, Wellington and Lower Hutt – $20.5 million.
* Expand the Housing First programme to a further 550 households in other regions – $42.9 million.

"Housing First is a programme for the most vulnerable people and families; those who are really struggling with long-term homelessness or facing multiple and complex needs. It aims to end homelessness, not just manage it," Twyford said.

"Homelessness is the sharp end of the national housing crisis which was created over the past decade. New Zealand needs more houses and we're working on this.

"In the meantime, our Government will make sure everyone is helped to find warm, dry housing this winter, and our most vulnerable people and families get the intensive help they need.

"For anyone who needs help with housing this winter, I urge you to go to Work and Income. Our frontline services are ready with a raft of options to help people who need support with housing this winter," Twyford said.