Government coughs up over $2m for Hawke's Bay homeless to stay in motels

244 transitional housing places are available in Hawke's Bay with 158 currently motel rooms provided by 12 contracted motels. Photo / Mark Mitchell

The Government spent $2.17 million on motel rooms for those who can't get transitional housing in Hawke's Bay in just three months.

During the same period, in the three months to the end of December, Housing NZ also spent $1.3m on support services in transitional housing of all types in Hawke's Bay.

The total spend was more than double the $1.56m Housing NZ spent on transitional housing in the previous quarter.

Of the 244 transitional housing places available in Hawke's Bay, 158 are currently motel rooms provided by 12 contracted motels.

The 244 places are capable of supporting just under 1000 households each year.

Regional Commissioner at the Ministry of Social Development Annie Aranui said emergency housing in a motel was never the first option.

"It is always a last resort that is used if there is no space in transitional or public housing.

"It is important people have somewhere warm, dry and safe to live."

A motel owner who didn't want to be named said the problems brought about by those needing transitional and emergency housing was often "too much" to cope with.

He said he was sick of the mistreatment his motel got from those wanting support.

"Don't get me wrong, probably half of these people are genuine but the others just think they live an entitled life style and don't care about anyone else.

"We did do it for a bit last year but the drama we had with people setting up drug labs and selling drugs was just ridiculous, one woman was even prostituting right here in the motel."

Aranui said they work directly with moteliers to ensure both them and the clients looking for accommodation both get a fair deal.

"We work with our emergency providers such as motels to provide the best service to our clients," Aranui said.

Transitional Housing provides people with an immediate need of a place to stay with short-term housing for around 12 weeks from the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development.

Emergency Housing is still the same concept but under the Ministry of Social Department.

In a statement Ministry of Housing and Urban Development spokesman Scott Gallacher said the number of people on the housing register in December 2018 in Hawke's Bay had risen by 39 since September to 661.

But the amount of Emergency Housing Special Needs Grants approved had almost halved in that period from $1.4m to $772,000, he said.

Emergency Housing Special Needs Grants cover the cost of short-term accommodation for people with an urgent housing need.