Davidson labels some emergency housing as ‘inhumane’

One of the Government’s own ministers has condemned some emergency housing as “inhumane”, while taking aim at a system allowing moteliers to turn a quick buck at the expense of safety and a decent place to live.

Those at the coalface say there’s not enough oversight, with families mixed in with gang members and many places rife with crime and violence.

Green Party co-leader and Associate Housing Minister Marama Davidson said some were living in “inhumane, undignified situations” and the way money was handed out to motels and other providers – with no strings attached – was “unacceptable”.

While this is not in her “direct delegation”, with emergency housing grants “caretaken through MSD”, she said there was a broad expectation of a “basic level of provision and service – not just for the taxpayers’ money – which in itself is hefty and an unacceptable and ineffective cost for all of us… but also the cost of the cumulative harm”.

From what she has heard from residents and those working on the frontline, Davidson was not satisfied emergency housing is “fully safe for everybody”; some were made to feel “barely human, seen primarily as a way for commercial motels to make quick money”.

Children were a particular concern, Davidson said, with some living in “inhumane conditions…not suitable for any humans but certainly not suitable for young people”.

People are continuing to share stories about brazen criminal activity and intimidation, including vulnerable families, women and children – people too scared to venture out of their rooms – all while providers pocket ever growing amounts of money.

That spending just keeps on rising with $1 million a day being spent on emergency and transitional housing, and expectations of 170,000 grants needed for this year and next.

Social Development Minister Carmel Sepuloni was asked last week if she was satisfied people in emergency housing are safe.

“I’m satisfied that if they don’t feel safe and they contact MSD, then MSD will work with them to ensure that they are put into more appropriate accommodation,” was her response.