The Minister for Social Development says the hefty bill for emergency housing is uncomfortable, but necessary - for now
The Minister for Social Development says the hefty bill for emergency housing is uncomfortable, but necessary - for now
23 April 2021
The government has been paying almost a million dollars a day in emergency motel grants, with one provider raking in 14 point 7 million across the past three years.
Some moteliers are charging more than 400 per night, with the average stay ballooning to three months, from what is supposed to be one week.
Social Development Minister Carmel Sepuloni says they're prepared to foot the bill while more houses are urgently being built.
She says the alternative is seeing families living on the street or in their cars.
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