The Government is fronting up with $100 million to support those in urgent need of housing, Housing Minister Phil Twyford says.
Some $37 million will go into urgently increasing housing supply this winter, with the remaining $63 million being spread over four years to expand and sustain 1450 Housing First homes.
“Housing First is a programme for the most vulnerable people and families; those who are really struggling with long-term homelessness or facing multiple and complex needs. It aims to end homelessness, not just manage it,” says Twyford.
By the end of this winter, Twyford says there will be an additional 1500 transitional, public and Housing First places compared with the end of last year.
The capital earmarked for the Housing First programme will come from new operating spending in Budget 2018.
The Government will boost the funding for ongoing services in the more than 900 current Housing First houses holds across the country by $20.5 million.
The remaining $43 million will be used to add a further 550 houses in regions outside Auckland, Christchurch, Tauranga, Hamilton and Lower Hutt.
“Homelessness is the sharp end of the national housing crisis which was created over the past decade. New Zealand needs more houses and we’re working on this.”
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