'I was struggling so much', says single mum trapped in emergency housing cycle

Friday, 12 April 2019

Trying to parent while living in a motel was stressful and difficult, says Margaret, who spent eight months moving between motels.

A single mum says life in emergency accommodation with a child keeps you dependent on services.

Margaret and her toddler moved to Nelson from Auckland on the promise of family support.

But the support never materialised, and fleeing her abusive relationship, Margaret turned to Housing New Zealand, who put her and her two-year-old up in a motel, paid for with a special assistance grant from the Ministry of Social Development.

Receiving the weekly grant depends on proving you are looking for homes, so each day Margaret and her little boy would travel by bus to a house viewing.

Emergency housing is no place to bring up children, says Nelson social housing advocate Carol Marshall.

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She also juggled medical and Work and Income appointments, and had to factor in trips to the supermarket.

With a poor credit rating, incurred by her ex's debts, she wasn't a dream tenant, and Margaret fell into a cycle of house viewings and rejections. All her time, energy and money was focussed on the futile search for a house.

Social housing is a problem in the Tasman-West Coast region. Ministry of Housing and Urban Development data shows that 481 emergency housing grants were allocated in the final quarter of 2018, up from 304 in the same period in 2017. The report showed that 407 applicants sit on the housing register, up from 356 in 2017.

'I was struggling so much. I have never ever been in a situation like this; I have always had a home,' Margaret said.

She moved between three motels during her eight months, in Nelson, Richmond and Blenheim.

'Your life is put on hold; you have to be ready to move at any time.'

Each was full of families, she said. 'As soon as one left another would arrive.'

Margaret began drinking. 'I started hating myself because of that, and I felt like a complete failure of a parent.'

Eventually she found a home at Ma's Place, a Richmond charity in a family home that helps single women get back on their feet.

Now, Margaret has space and time to get her life together. She's stopped drinking, and she's a better parent.

Ma's Place founder Carol Marshall, who lives in the home with her own family, said emergency housing is an 'unseen problem'.

'If you have people living in their cars it would be visible. But if you're in a motel, nobody knows you're homeless.'

The treadmill of rejections is disheartening, especially when you're already vulnerable, she says.

'The mums … are already struggling with parenting, medical problems, all the effects of not being in a stable home.'

'Life in emergency housing keeps you in a state of dependence. It's not a good place to raise a child. It goes in a cycle and just keeps you there.'

Marshall is worried about the effects of the housing crisis on children.

'If you don't have your home, you can't parent. I'm worried about the impact of the housing crisis: imagine what the impact is on kids.'

Community Action Nelson spokeswoman Mary Ellen O'Connor said Margaret's case underlined the 'screaming need' for secure housing for women and children. It also highlighted the ongoing housing supply problem.

'We desperately need more wraparound services [to support] women and children rather than pressuring them to move on.'

'Secure housing is just so important for family stability. If you can get secure housing around a family the health, education and justice outcomes are going to be way better.'

Ministry of Social Development regional commissioner David Ensor said he recognised how 'tough' it was to find accommodation in the current housing market.

While emergency housing was considered a last resort, it was better than alternatives.

'It's not ideal but at a time when there's a nationwide shortage of houses, a motel is a better option than a car or other insecure housing.'

'We do ask people we're supporting with emergency motel accommodation to let us know each week how they're going with their search for more permanent housing, so that we can make sure they're still eligible for the emergency help.'