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Family goes from living in tent to a new home
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**One family lived in a tent during the cyclone. Another ended up in
emergency housing and even slept in a truck one night. And a couple
had nowhere to go so lived with family for two years. These are the
stories of those who now have new affordable homes in the Kainga Ora
Worsley St development. Zita Campbell reports.**
Just over a year ago, a mother of three found herself living in tents
with her children during Cyclone Gabrielle.
Now she and her family are in the newly built Worsley St Kainga Ora
development.
After a year of raising her children in a hotel, she describes her
search for accommodation as "awful".
Kāinga Ora manages and maintains about 65,000 public houses and places
people into those houses from the Housing Register.
Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka announced last week whānau with
tamariki growing up in emergency housing would be prioritised for
social housing.
The Gisborne mother — who wishes to remain anonymous — said she had
initially moved back home from Australia to see her father who was in
palliative care.
"It was an awful time," she said of her tenting situation. "All of my
kids' clothes and stuff got damaged during the cyclone.
" I packed up the tents and drove to Work and Income ... I refused to
leave until I was seen.
"I broke down in tears," she said. "I was so exhausted I ended up
falling asleep in their offices."
There are 81 households in emergency housing in Gisborne, according to
recent data from the Ministry of Social Development (MSD).
Those households have a total of 78 children.
Another mother of four said she first applied for emergency housing in
2018. After that, several temporary living situations fell through.
Over the years, she and her children shifted between emergency
housing, family places and a cabin.
The family of five slept in a truck one night.
"We had to move to places that were not always suitable. It's been a
roller-coaster for the last three to four years for me and my
children."
The woman has an 8-month-old and children aged 2, 6 and 8.
"I'm so grateful that journey has finally ended and we have settled
into our family home.
She advised people in her position to speak up.
"I was speechless when I found out about the house."
After everything we have been through, it was so big."
MSD regional commissioner Karen Bartlett said in a statement that
moving 24 tamariki into a secure and stable home was a reason to
celebrate.
"We know temporary and emergency accommodation is not an ideal way to
raise a family," she said.
A couple who moved into the development described themselves as "the
lucky ones".
They were nervous to find out whether they would be able to move in
because of the high demand for the Worsley St build.
Lena and William Bennett, in their late 60s, said it was "highly
important" Kāinga Ora continued its work, as many people were in need.
When the Bennetts' 11-year tenancy came to an end, they said it was
impossible to find an affordable rental.
"Gisborne prices have become like Auckland prices — I don't see why,"
Lena Bennett said.
Their circumstances forced them to live in a family bach for two
years. Whenever they needed necessities, such as the bathroom or
water, they had to walk to the main house.
She hated to think what their circumstances would have been without
their family.
"It was nerve-wracking waiting for the call. We were the lucky ones,"
she said.
Tairawhiti is expected to need an additional 5000 homes by 2050 and
public consultation will soon begin on a strategy to address this
issue.
Gisborne District Council's Future Development Strategy has been under
development since 2022 to accommodate the region's population growth
and housing affordability.
Kāinga Ora regional director for East North Island Naomi Whitewood
said that over the last three years "we have invested $82,743,500 in
the Gisborne economy redeveloping homes on Kāinga Ora land and
purchasing newly built homes off developers.
"We have 150 new homes in progress. These homes are expected to be
completed and ready for whānau to move into over the next two years.
"We are looking into the feasibility of developing other sites that
would result in another 60 new homes," she said.
"Kāinga Ora are delivering the extra state houses in Gisborne that
have been budgeted for in the Ministry of Housing and Urban
Development's Public Housing Plan extended through to June 2025.
"The plan identifies Gisborne as a priority area for more housing."
**— LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.**
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