Monte Cecilia Housing Trust chief executive Bernie Smith says Omicron in the community highlights the need for more social housing, so families living in overcrowded conditions can self-isolate.
The trust, based in Māngere, Auckland said it has 600 transitional and social housing properties, with 400 applicants on a waiting list.
Smith said the organisation can’t keep up with demand.
“It’s always been a problem, but it’s getting worse,” he said.
“In the last two years rents have increased substantially. The cost of living is increasing and those on a basic income, or wage, haven’t seen their incomes go up in some time.”
Smith said families in South Auckland are now paying between $500 and $800 a week for a three-bedroom house.
“Some people are being pushed into homelessness,” he said.
Smith said he's also aware of the effect a widespread Omicron outbreak could have on those struggling to put a roof over their heads.
He said Covid-19 has highlighted the need for families to have their own home, because people living in overcrowded conditions cannot properly self-isolate.
“We know Omicron is going to sweep through south Auckland.”
The number of people on the Ministry of Social Development’s housing register has grown rapidly since 2018.
Data shows there were 25,527 applicants nationwide on the housing waiting list as of December 31, 2021. That's up from 10,712 in December 2018. Among those, applicants in south Auckland have increased from 1931 to 3331, between 2018 and 2021.
“We’ve got more and more people going to WINZ [Work and Income] because while their income might be able to pay the rent, they can’t put food on the table," Smith said.
“We deal with one family and then we’ve got nine queueing up, so we’ve had to be a bit more selective and help those that are in a crisis, someone living in a car or a garage is more of a priority for us,” Smith said.
“We’ve seen cases with a family of six living in a single bedroom. So getting people out of living in overcrowded circumstances is key for us.”
In response to Smith, a spokeswoman from the office of Housing Minister Megan Woods said these are "challenging times and the Government is concerned that all vulnerable communities get the support they need during the Covid-19 pandemic."
“That’s why the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development – Te Tūā Papa Kura Kāinga - has been working closely with housing providers and other agencies, including the Ministry of Health, and Māori and Pasifika groups to understand what the need is, and to help put those supports in place.
“This includes extra support services, help with housing costs, and more accommodation for people with nowhere to stay or living in overcrowded situations.”
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