A West Coast District Health Board social worker has raised concerns about the lack of accommodation in Hokitika leading to people "sleeping rough" including one person who was found living under the Hokitika Bridge. Jose Timmerman said she was currently working with three clients who urgently needed accommodation, including the person who was sleeping under the bridge. I am aware that there are many more people around our town and district struggling to find appropriate accommodation, some sleeping rough, some even having to move elsewhere," Ms Timmerman said. "It seems very difficult to get people into supported accommodation, there are not many Housing New Zealand-owned properties in Hokitika. We do not have other social housing for people under 65 years of age, and even for them there is a very long waiting list."

Source: Otago Daily Times November 08, 2017 01:52 UTC