A shortage of affordable rental properties in Southland has caused an increase in the number of people seeking emergency housing grants. The number of Southlanders seeking Emergency Housing Special Needs Grants from the Ministry of Social Development is increasing, as a housing shortage bites in the deep south. While the number of clients seeking grants in Balclutha had stayed at less than 10 during the three years, numbers had risen in Gore and Invercargill. In Gore there were 17 clients and 90 grants issued in the year ending September 2017, but that had increased to 40 people seeking 127 grants to the end of September this year. The Emergency Housing Special Needs Grant (EH SNG) was introduced in July 2016 and is paid directly to the accommodation provider.

Source: Stuff December 29, 2019 01:52 UTC