She told us she was sleeping on a friend’s floor — and looking for another boarding house. The safety of boarding houses — and their homeless occupants — was brought to public attention this year when the Wellington boarding house Loafers Lodge caught fire, killing five people. In some boarding houses, significant fire hazards included plug-in heaters in bedrooms occupied by hoarders, surrounded by flammable rubbish. At the other higher-standard boarding house we visited, there were smart solutions to deal with predictable anti-social behaviour. Married health workers Reshma Cheruvattakunnumal (left) and Jino James and have found their boarding house a warm and supportive place.
