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Emergency accommodation offers for those made homeless by the Christchurch earthquake have flooded in at more than triple the rate of demand.
As of yesterday Housing New Zealand (HNZ) had registered more than 2000 offers of accommodation and 552 people who needed emergency housing.
Housing minister Phil Heatley said while there were enough accommodation offers for the immediate demand, he expected need to increase.
Staff from HNZ and the Department of Building and Housing (DBH) are working around the clock to find shelter for the many homeless, he said.
"We believe demand will increase significantly in the coming weeks and months as people return to Canterbury and as rebuilding begins."
Mr Heatley said campervan and mobile home villages would be established at Canterbury Park A&P Showgrounds and the Riccarton Race Course as a short term option for residents, he said.
Rent would be charged, but accommodation grants announced last month by earthquake recovery minister Gerry Brownlee would be available, he said.
"The first campervans and mobile homes can be moved on site once essential services such as a water supply are put in place. In the short term, people will require access to suitable alternative accommodation that is self contained."
Other accommodation sites identified in the wake of the original September earthquake were still being assessed to see whether they had suffered liquefaction or other damage, Mr Heatley said.
Longer term housing for residents with serious damage to their properties could be constructed on those sites if they are deemed safe, he said.
To offer accommodation to quake-hit Christchurch residents, call 0800 HELP 00.
- NZHERALD STAFF
