Mixed reaction to transitional housing plan for Wainuomata

Tuesday, 3 December 2019

Motels are reaping record amounts for housing the homeless - tens of millions of dollars every month. (Video first published November 2019)

Residents say there has been no consultation about transitional housing planned for Wainuiomata.

Kainga Ora (formerly Housing New Zealand) last week sent letters to residents in Wood St, outlining plans to build 44 homes for 144 people.

In the three months to September it had spent $2.1 million on emergency housing in Lower Hutt.

Labour MP Ginny Andersen said the expenditure was a waste of money and she supported Kainga Ora building transitional housing.

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Everyone had the right to live in a warm, dry safe environment and she believed that having families in motels could not be justified.

Locals have reacted with anger on social media, claiming there has been no consultation and the development will devalue properties.

Hutt South MP Chris Bishop posted that he supported the need for housing but was unhappy that local MPs and the council were not informed.

Labour list MP Ginny Andersen supports Kainga Ora building transitional housing.

'My understanding is the council was only informed less than a week ago,' he said.

'This is an appalling process, particularly when the council has been trying to engage with HNZ for many years around a coordinated approach to social housing provision in the Hutt.'

Andersen said she was surprised by the remarks, as there was a clear need for the housing.

The previous government contributed to the current housing crisis by demolishing Housing New Zealand properties, she said.

She denied that Kainga Ora had not consulted with locals and said that was exactly what it was doing, by writing to neighbours.

Wood Hatton School closed in 2001. The latest plan for the site involves building transitional housing for homeless Wainuiomata families.

Kainga Ora told neighbours it planned to build a mixture of two and three-bedroom homes.

Tenants will stay for up to three months as Kainga Ora finds them long-term accommodation.

'This accommodation is very much needed for people in urgent need of somewhere to stay.'

MP Chris Bishop is unhappy that local MPs and the council were not informed.

Bishop planned to organise a public meeting.

New mayor Campbell Barry faces a major challenge over the future of the earthquake prone Naenae Pool.

'I have been contacted by lots of residents in Wood St, so I am just standing up for the legitimate concerns they have.'

The debate on social media has been split between those who oppose the plan and those who strongly favour any new housing.

Sam Bason posted that he was worried about his 'safety' and the impact it would have on house prices.

'This is lose lose for all the surrounding residents. Surely there is a better plan than a 100 per cent transitional facility … it just seems ludicrous.'

The Ministry of Social Development has spent $1.8 million on emergency housing in Lower Hutt in three months.

John Dillion-Ravenswood disagreed strongly.

'At last HNZ is stepping up in the fight against homelessness in the Hutt. Now we need the same in Hutt City also. Pity there seems to be the usual attacks from the NIMBY (Not In My Backyard) crowd.'

Mayor Campbell Barry received a briefing from Kainga Ora on Monday afternoon.

There are currently 60 Wainuiomata families waiting for a home and he said the council received a guarantee they would be the priority.

'These are people who are in motels or even, potentially, in garages.'

Kainga Ora also said it should have done a better job consulting residents and was in the process of developing an engagement plan, Barry said.

Kāinga Ora spokesperson Andrew Booker said there was an urgent demand for housing in Lower Hutt.

The number of people living in motels was rising and Kāinga Ora wanted to address that problem.

'Motels are not well suited or affordable long-term accommodation – it's hard for families, children or anyone to thrive when they're living week to week in motels.'

Transitional housing was a much better option, he said

'It gives people somewhere safe to live for three months or more, along with social services and support while they find a longer-term home.'