Published on 1st of June, 2026
Blenheim’s hidden housing crisis reached a powerful milestone in February as CMM’s housing team in Blenheim/Te Tau Ihu supported its 500th whānau into safe transitional accommodation.
Regional Manager for Blenheim, Nelson and the West Coast Vanya Vitasovich says the achievement is both heartening and sobering. “The people we support are real — along with their stories of hardship, injustice and trauma.”
Behind every household housed lies a deeper truth: Marlborough’s housing distress is widening. Elders in their 70s and 80s, single workers, families, and even former business owners are now turning to emergency and transitional housing. “Homelessness doesn’t discriminate… it only takes a single event for someone to end up in distress,” Vanya says.
Cost‑of‑living pressures are pushing many over the edge. Families are choosing between heating and food, or petrol and school attendance. Transitional housing offers stability and dignity — but without more permanent homes, the pathway forward narrows.
“Stepping stones only work when there is somewhere to step to,” Vanya says. “this is why we’re calling for urgent government investment in social and affordable housing, especially for older people. Because while 500 whānau have found safety, many more remain unseen — and at risk.”
