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Christchurch earthquake-shelter residents say they have had to deal with gangs, drug searches and theft at welfare centres as they enter their second week displaced from their homes.
They say they are exhausted as they finally get around to arranging their exits. Many want to leave, but their small children are too traumatised to go home.
Family kicked out
A welfare centre at Addington Raceway for quake victims continues to get 200 people a night one week after it was set up.
At the weekend a family group of about 30 were evicted from the centre by police because they did not have a legitimate reason to stay.
Officers said some of the family had caused trouble at the centre, which continues to have an increased police presence.
Centre management said there had been no official complaints about gangs, drug searches and theft, but the Herald understands the evicted family have links to the Mongrel Mob.
A volunteer at the centre said there had been concerns about drugs being brought in, and staff even searched through donated soft toys to check for narcotics and needles. None had been found, the volunteer said.
Many shelter residents, including Angela Walsh, said the centre had been excellent.
She had nothing but praise for the way staff treated her and 3-year-old son Wiremu.
"Our 3-year-old doesn't want to go home," Ms Walsh said. "I read books, I go for walks, it's not so bad."
But many others said staying at the centre was taking its toll and they had to leave.
Illness adds to woe
A 35-year-old woman has had to deal with a serious illness on top of displacement and wants a break from it all.
Karlene, who did not want to give her last name, suffered kidney disease on the day of the quake and was admitted to hospital last week to get intravenous fluids and antibiotics.
She said she was feeling better yesterday and would leave the welfare centre as soon as she could arrange home support for her 67-year-old mother, Elaine, who celebrated her birthday at the centre last week.
"We're hoping to go home tomorrow, if we can get extra support. I need someone to keep an eye on her when I go back to normal things like work," Karlene said.
She felt as if she needed to leave the city and get away from the disaster, she said.
"To be honest, a change of scenery would be nice. Maybe Hanmer Springs. Maybe the new hot pools at Franz Josef.
"Just somewhere you don't see anything that's broken, no shattered glass, and you don't have to wonder if the toilet's going to flush or not."
She could not adequately describe how wonderful the centre's staff were, but some of the residents were another matter, she said.
"Some people have been stealing children's things. You just have to keep a close eye on your handbag," she said.
There had been gangs and drugs problems that had to be dealt with by police and security, she said.
Kids 'a bit traumatised'
A young mother said she had had too much.
"We're going to take the kids out of here. They're a bit traumatised. We need to take a break from Christchurch," said Amorangi Hobson. Her 1-year-old baby took aftershocks badly, and her two other young children were scared to go home.
"My baby won't let me go. She's a bit clingy after this morning's aftershock."
The family want to leave for Auckland or Huntly to stay with relatives, but buying air tickets for all of them has been too costly.
"We're hoping to get help with the plane tickets today. It's just the financial side. We've just been trying to get help, but haven't had any luck yet. Every time, the agencies don't seem to be able to help until one more day."
Last week, the family was trying to hang on, just applying for money to buy nappies, but by now they were exhausted and felt they had to find a way out.
"It's been ages. It's been a week. It's getting a bit much," she said. "I'm just trying to stay positive until we leave."
The family's house had been cleared as safe, but convincing the children was a different matter, Ms Hobson said.
"I would love to move home, but I don't want my children to be more traumatised than they already are," she said.
"They just need to get away."
