New temporary accommodation opens in Palmerston North

Wednesday, 24 October 2018

Kawakawa Lodge kaitiaki Raphaella Rogers-Dennison, left, and Homes For People founder Cheri Birch tend a garden at the site.

A new lodge opening in Palmerston North will fill a temporary-accommodation hole, but more affordable housing is also needed.

Kawakawa Lodge is opening on Thursday and will be managed by Homes for People, a community housing trust in Palmerston North.

The lodge on Pioneer Highway will be for people urgently needing a place to stay. Residents can stay for up to 12 weeks while they find a more long-term solution.

'People could be in this situation for a number of reasons, such as the housing they were renting being sold, or no longer being able to live with family or friends,' Homes for People founder and chief executive Darren Birch said.

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'Experience shows households greatly benefit from the chance to have a stable, safe place to live while they find longer-term housing.'

The property has 13 units for individuals and families.

Birch said building affordable homes helped get people into their own homes and open up other rentals.

'The only thing that will make a difference is to get more housing, and more affordable housing, into the market.'

When Homes for People first started looking at creating temporary accommodation, Birch said there was a lack of options for single fathers or families with older boys.

The cost of housing was rising and Birch said people were getting further and further behind if they didn't get their own house.

He wanted to see more support for affordable housing.

'We have 21 homes in the pipeline for affordable housing and we have enough funding to do seven of those and we need additional funding to be able to do the other 14.

'We have the land and plans established, so we are looking for investment partners.'

Ministry of Housing and Urban Development spokesman Scott Gallacher said there was more demand for housing support nationally, and this was reflected in the increase in the number of applicants on the social housing register.

At the end of June, there were 239 households on the social housing register in Palmerston North, up from 211 at the end of March.

'While we work hard to increase public housing supply, we're also looking after people in urgent need of a place to stay so they don't become homeless.'

That's where transitional housing comes in, including social support services, and this is managed by non-government organisations under contract.

Kawakawa Lodge would provide transitional housing places for about 50 households each year.

'It will significantly boost Palmerston North's ability to provide much-needed transitional housing, and will be well utilised,' Gallacher said.