Representatives of New Zealand have just promised to get every homeless citizen off the cold streets and into cozy shelters before winter rolls around.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and housing minister Phil Twyford announced the launch of their $100 million emergency housing package on Friday.
“We’re pulling out all the stops to support people in need and urgently increase housing supply this winter,” said Twyford. “Our government will make sure everyone is helped to find warm, dry housing.”
With the cold season just around the corner in the southern hemisphere, the government has 4 weeks to get the country’s 40,000 homeless people into proper shelters, housing, and facilities.
According to The Guardian, New Zealand officials hope to achieve this goal by enlisting the help of private citizens with suitable seasonal housing, “such as shearers quarters, private rental properties, motor camps, and maraes.”
They have also instructed shelters and similar facilities to allow for more flexible admission.
“As soon as we came into government we knew we wouldn’t be able to physically build the houses we’d need by May, when winter was really starting to bite,” says Ardern in her Facebook Live announcement.
“So we acknowledge this is emergency… but we couldn’t stand by and see people in cars or completely unsuitable housing in the meantime.”
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