The government has announced an extra $107.6 million to help vulnerable people in need of housing.
Housing Minister Megan Woods Photo: RNZ / Ana Tovey
Housing Minister Megan Woods announced the funding today, saying it would help vulnerable New Zealanders during and after the Covid-19 pandemic.
Some $31 million of the new funding would be spent on services to support those people's needs.
"People living rough or in accommodation where social distancing was not possible were especially vulnerable to Covid-19," she said.
"As of this weekend 876 units have vulnerable individuals and whānau living in them and they are being supported with social services."
She said more than 1100 additional motel units had already been secured for people without housing by government agencies, community housing, iwi and Māori providers since the alert levels were put in place.
Dr Woods said the funding would ensure people continued to be housed for the longer term, with 1600 units being funded,
"Many of the people living in the motels have high and complex needs and it's crucial they get support," she said.
"It will enable people to stay housed until we can secure more long-term housing supply."
She said work on securing permanent housing for those provided with a home during lockdown was being done, with a plan to provide 1000 transitional housing places announced as part of the Homelessness Action Plan in February.
She said construction to provide more housing supply would continue as restrictions to counter the Covid-19 coronavirus were lifted.
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