Rent-free building for Tauranga homeless

A Tauranga Iwi trust has opened its doors to homeless families in the city by gifting a building rent free for one year.

Te Tuinga Whanau Support Services director Tommy Wilson announced this morning the Tauranga Moana Maori Trust had offered the agency one of its buildings in central city to launch its Whare for Whanau project - which would accommodate struggling families.

A rent-free building in central Tauranga has been announced to help ease the homeless issue in the city. Photo/John Borren

Prior to announcement Mr Wilson said the property would provide an ''oasis" for up to three families at a time that had been living in cars, caravans or sheds.

An estimated $100,000 would be needed to run the shelter for 12 months and Mr Wilson said it has opened a Give A Little Page for donations.