What is Contracted Emergency Housing?
Contracted emergency housing is where MHUD contract specific motels to provide emergency accommodation for families/whānau with children, young people, and people with disabilities. It also can include kuia, kaumātua, and elderly individuals.
MHUD contract the whole motel for emergency housing. No other guests can stay at the motel while it is contracted by MHUD.
Wrap-around support services are provided for those staying in contracted emergency housing. This support is provided by a service provider, either Visions of a Helping Hand, Emerge Aotearoa or WERA Aotearoa. Support involves:
- Assessing the immediate needs of each whānau/family
- Working alongside the whānau/family during their stay to manage any issues related to their stay
- Assisting them in finding more permanent housing options
- 24/7 on-site security and on-site social workers
Applications for Resource Consent for 13 contracted operators
Resource consent was sought by 13 operators contracted by the Ministry for Housing and Urban Development (MHUD) to enable them to continue providing emergency housing for a further five years.
Hearings were held in October 2023 before a panel of independent commissioners.
On 15 December 2022 the commissioners released their decisions, granting two-year consents to all 13 applicants, with conditions.
Section 120 of the Resource Management Act 1991 provides for the right to appeal to the Environment Court against the decision, or against any conditions imposed in respect of that decision. Any such appeal must be lodged with the Court within 15 working days of notification of the decision.
These consents came into effect when the appeal date was passed on 1 February 2023.
