There are new calls to help the working homeless in Christchurch, with social agencies describing the situation as “incredibly sad”.
As living costs soar and incomes stagnate, some in employment were making an active decision to skip renting to try to save money, including families with children.
A 23-year-old woman has parked up in Christchurch’s red zone, an area that was abandoned after the earthquakes.
The once-empty streets were now lined with campervans, cars, and even tents.
She said she was disillusioned with the rental market and what’s on offer.
“I love living in my car. It gives me freedom, and I feel safe here.
“It’s cheaper for me to live in my car than it is to rent. Because I’m a full-time worker, most of my pay will end up going towards rent.”
While the woman would like to have a permanent place to live, she doesn’t hold out much hope for government support.
“They care more about money than actually the love for people,” said the woman.
Down the road, there was a makeshift kitchen stocked with pots, pans, and food.
A man has created an outdoor living space to make his life a bit more comfortable after moving to the east-side suburb due to rent troubles at his previous house.
While he works full-time, making ends meet is tricky.
“We got pensioners out here. Three weeks ago, we had a family of six kids… The parents had jobs, but they couldn’t afford the housing because there wasn’t enough housing. That’s a big problem.”
The man said there needs to be more focus on looking after “our own” first than sending money and resources overseas.
“We’re not a third world country, feeling like it though,” said the man.
The calls for help are growing in the garden city, with Housing First Ōtautahi seeing its wait list double in the last year to 120 individuals.
Manager Nicola Fleming said the answer was more housing.
“Don’t know how, don’t know where. But everyone needs it. Corrections need it. We need it. Health needs it. People are released from the hospital, they need it. So it’s just a horrendous situation out there,” said Fleming.
Nationwide, the Government has promised 1500 new homes, while financial support is being offered to community providers.
Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka said 3000 children have been moved out of emergency accommodation, like motels.
“For the most part, they’ve gone to housing such as transitional, social housing or private housing. We know where 86% of those who have exited emergency housing have gone, and of course, the other 14% they’re under no obligation to tell us where they’re going,” said Potaka.
Christchurch City Missioner Corinne Haines said it mattered where those people ended up, because they could be the ones now living in cars.
“I just think it’s really incredibly sad that there are people in New Zealand who are employed who cannot afford to have permanent housing.
“If we can’t get people through that emergency accommodation into the transitional housing, we can’t get them out into their own homes.
“There was a month there where we couldn’t move anybody from transitional housing into another level of housing because there was nowhere for them to go.”
As the chill of winter starts to bite, Haines urged those who are roughing it to still reach out for help.
