Zac Thomas, chief executive of Renters United, said the figures were “a mockery”. government claims regarding emergency housing.

“Families are sleeping on the streets, in cars and under bridges because of the government’s ideological crusade against renters. “The reintroduction of no-cause evictions, as well as the sharp increase in falls, will only increase homelessness in Aotearoa New Zealand.”

Karen Hocking, group housing general manager Ministry of Social Development (MSD) said ministers in March announced changes that would tighten emergency housing entry gates and strengthen processes for those entering emergency housing.

“This included increased review by MSD staff regarding whether clients applying for emergency shelter were unreasonably contributing to their emergency shelter needs.

“Following a legislative change in July, further changes were introduced in August to ensure emergency housing is suitable for people who have no other housing options. “This included new responsibilities for people who have been in emergency accommodation for more than a week.”

He said people spending their eighth night in emergency accommodation should make a good effort to find other housing by looking for accommodation to rent, getting help with private accommodation or staying with whānau or friends.

They were also required to contact a support service or budget or employment advisors at their assigned location and pay emergency housing contributions on time.

“If people are not meeting these responsibilities, there are two opportunities to remedy the situation before the request for emergency housing is denied.”

People will be given two written warnings and if a third occurs their next emergency claim will be rejected with a 13-week waiting period.

Greens MP Ricardo Menendez-March said the new criteria made the bar “higher and more prohibitive”.

“People should not be left to sofa surf, live in motels or on the streets because they cannot find private rentals out of their reach in the midst of a housing crisis.

“The government has made it a goal to move people away from emergency housing without slowing down public housing construction and instead guaranteeing families adequate, stable housing.

“The Department for Social Development has a duty to ensure that homeless people who need assistance are supported and the Government’s prohibitive emergency housing criteria are getting in the way of the provision of adequate housing.

“The Greens are calling on the Government to focus on building enough public housing and remove new policies that make it harder to access emergency housing so families have the chance to put down roots in their communities.”

-RNZ

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