Kiwis living on the Gold Coast who have fallen on hard times are being offered one-way tickets back to New Zealand.
The Nerang Neighbourhood Centre is offering the repatriation flights as New Zealanders are ineligible for governmental support for general homelessness.
Nerang Neighbourhood Centre general manager Vicky Rose told Morning Report that for some people, a flight back to New Zealand was the only option.
“Our job is to put all the options on the table and we wouldn’t be doing our job properly if we didn’t put going back to New Zealand on the table.
“Often it’s the only option for that person or family to be able to get financial support.”
"You haven't failed ... the has system failed you," Nerang Neighbourhood Centre general manager Vicky Rose says about general homelessness.
Rose explained the offer was “entirely voluntary” and not everyone took it up. For some, a few conversations were needed before they came to the conclusion heading back to New Zealand was the best option.
“I always frame the conversation around, ‘you haven’t failed, in some ways the system has failed you’.”
The funding for the flights comes from the Queensland state government, and Rose said the Nerang Neighbourhood Centre had collaborated with other organisations across the Gold Coast and Brisbane to help people get back to New Zealand.
“It’s emergency relief funding and it’s for people in crisis when there’s no other option.”
Rose said the decision was a tough one as Australia had become people’s home, regardless of how long they had been living there.
“We’ve helped dozens and dozens over the years, and there are two organisations affiliated to the Department of Immigration that also do this called Homeward and International Organisation for Migration.
“It’s an issue, and I think it’s going to become more of an issue given that rents here are astronomical and affordable housing is almost out of reach of working people. We have working people living in their cars here.”
