The waiting list for assistance from the Queenstown Lakes Central Housing Trust (QLCHT) is continuing to grow despite Covid-19 ‘resetting’ prices across the district.

Before the pandemic hit New Zealand’s shores, QLCHT had a waiting list of 600 qualifying households. This now sits at 740 households, despite the fact that rents have reduced by up to 30 per cent throughout the district, QLCHT executive officer Julie Scott said.

Julie said the increase in requests for assistance is largely down to reduced incomes among many households across the district because of the impacts of Covid-19.

About 20 per cent of those people on the list are waiting for homes in Wanaka.

"When the borders closed there was a huge effect on the local economy, and as a result we've seen a number of new households come on to our waiting list, who were not under housing stress previously.

“While the respite in rental prices has been welcomed by many, there's a high number of residents throughout the district who have experienced either complete loss of income, or a partial reduction through reduced hours.”

Julie said about 50 per cent of the waiting list is made up of families with children, while couples and singles comprise 30 per cent and 20 per cent of the waiting list respectively.

“The breakdown of the waiting list reveals that housing issues are not just confined to families, but numerous demographics within the community.”

The trust has provided 48 households with new homes over the past two months in its Toru and Hikuwai developments, in Queenstown and Wanaka respectively.

The newly-built standalone Hikuwai homes include one four-bedroom house, three three-bedroom houses and two two bedroom-houses.

Established to manage and deliver affordable housing solutions to residents who cannot afford it, QLCHT has several programmes in place to help low-to-moderate income households including public housing, assisted rental, rent-to-buy, and assisted ownership.

“We will continue to ensure we provide a range of housing to satisfy the various cohorts on our waiting list,” Julie said.

 PHOTO: Supplied