Almost 80 waiting for state homes in Rotorua - with 51 needing accommodation 'immediately'

PHOTO/FILE

Almost 80 people are on the waiting list for state housing in Rotorua - with more than half of them deemed "at risk".

According to Ministry of Social Development data there were 78 people on the waiting list at the end of December - more than double the 32 at the end of December 2015.

Of those waiting 51 were deemed "at risk" - that included households with "severe and persistent housing needs" which needed to be addressed immediately.

Most were in need of one or two bedroom houses.

Meanwhile, Housing New Zealand said that as at the end of December, 21 of its 648 properties in the Rotorua district were vacant.

Of these, four were being repaired or having routine maintenance done, while 16 were contaminated with methamphetamine above Ministry of Health guidelines and required decontamination. One was being prepared for sale.

Love Soup Rotorua co-founder Elmer Peiffer, who along with wife Gina provide support for Rotorua's homeless and displaced population, said they weren't surprised with the high number of people on the waiting list.

"There's just not enough [housing]."

He said they were seeing people with excellent references who were applying for social housing because there was nowhere else to go.

Mr Peiffer said he had heard of people on the waiting list for more than a year, while others had been on it for several months.

He said people could become stressed, anxious and depressed when trying to find a home or being stuck on the waiting list, and could feel undervalued and question why they weren't being considered for properties.

Mr Peiffer believed part of the answer was more state houses, but also said more rentals were desperately needed in Rotorua and making sure landlords who bought rental properties put them back in the rental market.

Costs were also an issue - with rental prices either needing to drop, or earnings increase, he said.

Ministry of Social Development social housing deputy chief executive Scott Gallacher said its goal was to support people into long-term, sustainable housing.

"However, support was available to help people who need temporary accommodation while we look at longer-term options."

He encouraged those with a serious housing need to see them so they could explore options, which might include helping them to stay in their current accommodation by paying rent arrears, providing bond and rent in advance for a new rental or referring them to a contracted emergency housing provider.

Mr Gallacher said nationwide the ministry was working to secure another 3800 social housing places by 2019/2020.

What does it mean?
Priority A: People considered "at risk" and included households with significant and persistent needs and unable to access and/or sustain suitable, adequate and affordable alternative housing.
Priority B: People who had a "serious housing need" and included households with a significant and persistent need and unable to access and/or sustain suitable, adequate and affordable alternative housing.