Published on 28th of August, 2023
The Christchurch Methodist Mission is putting in place an array of measures to help address the worsening housing crisis in Blenheim and on the West Coast.
A new housing advocate for people falling through the cracks and left ineligible for services has been created in Blenheim, and is engaged in efforts to expand the pool of available housing in collaboration with other local organisations.
Next July, staff will cut the ribbon on six new two-bedroom units for families in Blenheim, the first such development undertaken by CMM in the town. Work is now underway to create these beautiful new homes for families who are currently unhoused.
“We’re doing our best in terms of providing more housing,” says Vanya Vitasovich, CMM Regional Housing Manager, “The housing that’s available on the West Coast is dire and the rental market and the building of new homes is very slow.”
Vanya says a large number of older homes on the West Coast are no longer fit for habitation and that a lot of homes are flood damaged. As it is difficult to find building contractors and available land, some people endure emergency housing for years because there’s simply nowhere else to go. CMM is working with other church groups and the local council to find solutions to this problem.
“It’s difficult to manoeuvre through. I’ve attended several housing hui on the West Coast and it seems as if they’ve been battling the same thing for years and are just going through the motions. But at the last hui with local leaders and NGOs, it looked as if we were beginning to make progress.”
In Blenheim, job opportunities are plentiful–in vineyards, on fishing boats, at the mussel farms, on construction of the new high school and the new Picton wharf–but there is no housing to support the workers. People in emergency housing sometimes get evicted for more lucrative tenants, such as construction or RSE (recognised seasonal employer) workers.
Last year, Vanya’s team supported 340 whānau experiencing homelessness or who were on the brink of being made homeless in Blenheim, West Coast and Nelson. CMM was able to prevent every person who faced homelessness from ending up on the street.
Depending on a client’s circumstances, CMM will link them with support, give them an opportunity to work with housing or tenancy social workers, and walk alongside them throughout their housing journey.
“People sometimes come seeking to escape violence and without any emergency housing available, the team have to work quickly to come up with solutions. This is when we use their relationships with the Ministry of Social Development and local motel owners to get roofs over heads. We don’t give up; where there’s a will, there’s a way.”
