Social housing

What is Council’s role in facilitating social housing development?

While Council plays an important part in the local housing ecosystem many housing issues cannot solely be addressed through Council action.

Social housing is subsidised rental housing for people who are on the lowest incomes, unable to pay private market rates and unlikely to be able to own their home, or people who are vulnerable and/or have special needs.

The Government provides subsidised rental housing through state-owned housing managed by Kāinga Ora and through community housing organisations such as churches, iwi and housing trusts. Council provides some housing for the elderly units across the district, which is also a form of social housing.

Council’s role takes the form of advocacy – for Kāinga Ora and Ministry of Social Development to transition people out of motels and into more permanent housing solutions - as well as collaboration with the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development and Kāinga Ora, iwi, hapū, and community housing providers.

Council’s intent is to explore how it can better work together to invest in outcomes that will resolve the housing challenges faced by the community.

What issues does the Taupō District face?

The need for social housing, particularly in the wake of COVID-19, far exceeds supply.

The number of applicants on the Housing Register in the Taupō region has increased by 850 percent in the last five years, compared to 452 percent nationally. Given that many individuals opt not to register, this may not accurately reflect the actual need.

This demand is generated by a shortage of affordable housing driving up house prices and rents. Household costs such as rent, electricity, petrol, and food, have also increased rapidly in the last few years. This has led to massive housing stress in New Zealand. People on low incomes are most affected by rising housing costs and many seek help by registering for a social house.

Unfortunately, due to the shortage of public housing many individuals and families are currently living in emergency accommodation, such as motel units. While this is supposed to be a temporary measure, people are being housed there for months at a time. It is challenging to determine the exact number of Taupō District residents living in emergency housing given people are being relocated into areas where there are vacancies for emergency accommodation.

Housing people in motels is not a long-term solution that we want to see in our district. We need our motels to support our thriving tourism sector. We also have concerns that ‘wrap around’ social services essential for the wellbeing of social housing tenants are not being provided to some of these tenants.

What solutions is Council proposing?

We will look more closely at the role and contributions of Council, Central Government, Iwi, and industry and community housing providers. Our intent is to explore how we can better work together to invest in outcomes that will resolve the housing challenges faced by our community.

As outlined in the housing strategy, Taupō District Council will develop a collaborative relationship with the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, Kāinga Ora, iwi, hapū, and community housing providers with a focus on better understanding and addressing the housing challenges facing the Taupō District. The proposed actions include:

• data sharing
• identifying appropriate locations for social housing, with easy access to services
• ensuring provision of wrap-around services for vulnerable people and people with complex needs
• investigating alternative financial models that support home ownership, for example progressive home ownership schemes

Council will continue to advocate Kāinga Ora and Ministry of Social Development transition people out of motels and into more permanent housing solutions.