Emergency housing trust misses out on additional govt funding

Chairman of the Tai Tokerau Emergency Housing Trust, Adrian Whale. Photo / Michael Cunningham

A Northland emergency housing trust in financial strife has missed out on extra government funding due to a technicality.

The Te Tai Tokerau Emergency Housing Trust was not one of 16 providers given a share of $500,000 last month, the Ministry of Social Development saying it was because the trust did not have a contract with it at this time.

The trust's manager, Adrian Whale, said while it technically did not have a contract, a third of people taken in were referrals from government departments.

At the end of last year, the trust had to make two of its three employees redundant and was facing closure by June.

"We're still operating but, at the same time, we're just surviving," Mr Whale said. The trust has since received a grant that will allow it to operate for another three years.

Mr Whale said the redundancies had put a lot of extra pressure on the remaining employee and while he was reluctant to "kick up a fuss" at this stage, he would be asking questions about why the trust had missed out on some of the $500,000 funding.

The trust had been full almost every night since January with people staying longer than usual.

"We don't seem to be able to get people into social housing as easily as we could last year."

Ministry community investment regional manager Nicole Devereux said the emergency housing sector played a key role in supporting vulnerable people.

"The $500,000 will go to 16 emergency housing providers who are contracted by the ministry to provide intensive social work services to vulnerable families in assisted emergency accommodation.

"MSD does not have a contract with Tai Tokerau Emergency Housing Trust at this time."

Funding arrangements with emergency housing providers were being reviewed because they were under more pressure from increased demand.

The additional $500,000 in funding had been allocated to relieve some of that pressure.