Mayor welcomes emergency housing funding boost

Mayor Len Brown has welcomed a Government funding boost which will help battle Auckland’s emergency housing crisis.

Minister of Social Housing Paula Bennett has announced a $2 million investment to provide up to an extra 120 emergency housing places a year for those most in need.

The Government move complements a $500,000 Auckland Council contribution to emergency housing providers over the next two years, already announced.

“It’s good to see the Government recognises we have an emergency accommodation crisis and that more needs to be done,” says Len Brown.

“Our current providers are at capacity and as a result way too many Aucklanders are sleeping rough or in cars. It’s an intolerable situation and it’s not good enough.”

Auckland Council recognises its regulatory costs are a barrier to providing new emergency housing places, hence its $500,000 injection to offset those costs for providers.

“We have worked closely with central Government on this issue for the past 18 months and together we are making good progress,” says Mr Brown.

“Our strong commitment to emergency housing will continue and it is my expectation we will also make progress on moving the sector towards a much more sustainable funding model in the near future.”

ENDS

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