PHOTO: LUKE KIRKEBY/ STUFF Okoroire Hotel manager Vivinne Hu is feed up with Work and Income and its treatment of emergency accomodation clients.
Work and Income’s handling of emergency accommodation clients has prompted the owner of an historic South Waikato Hotel to turn her back on the scheme.
Since February the Okoroire Hot Springs Hotel near Tīrau, built in 1889 featuring natural hot pools, multiple leisure activities, chalets and period themed rooms, has taken in dozens of Work and Income emergency accommodation clients.
Emergency Housing Special Needs Grants are given for up to one week at a time, after which clients are reassessed.
It comes amid New Zealand’s housing shortage with Work and Income’s Tokoroa service centre paying $17,625 to accommodate 21 people in motels, hotels or boarding houses in 2018 alone.
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