A former backpackers has reopened just in time to house workers struggling to find winter accommodation.

‘The Bothy 2’ opened its doors on Sunday (July 4) after Wanaka Backpackers Bothy owner David Brown took the initiative to lease the disused backpackers The Matterhorn in an attempt to help fix a problem he was seeing regularly.

Accommodation shortages for seasonal staff has been a major issue this winter and many workers have taken to sleeping in the back of vans, on friends floors and even pitching up tents in garages.

“We saw the problem first-hand because we were having to ask some people to leave ourselves, “David said.

These workers were being booted from backpackers and there were little to no accommodation options for them, he said

“You could really see the stress that people are under; they haven’t got a choice to move away really because they’ve got decent jobs,” he told the Wanaka App.

It was no easy feat, however, to get ‘The Bothy 2’ up and running, and it began with “tricky negotiation” with the building’s owners when he contacted them to request a winter lease. 

The space also required a substantial refurbishment.

“We have had to have electricians in, plumbers in and all of our staff in there working to clean it and fill it with linen and blankets.”

The Bothy 2 can sleep 70 but David made the decision to reduce that number to 32 for space and comfort of residents. 

Taking over a new backpackers was a business risk for David, but he said he was determined to provide workers with a “secure, comfortable and warm place until the end of the season.”

David worked with the Workforce Accommodation Network (WAN) and Cardrona Alpine Resort to compile a list of workers who were still on the hunt for a permanent roof for winter.

Cardrona Alpine Resort head of people and performance Laura Hedley gave David a list of 20-30 people looking for a home for winter.

“We are very grateful to him for that,” she said. “There’s still a few people looking for their permanent home but we’re a lot closer than we were before.”

WAN founder Carmen Blackler said she was also grateful to be able to connect her roomers with The Bothy 2.

“I thought it was a really good initiative for David and his team to put together. They came up with a really good solution when [the space] was sitting there doing nothing.”

New resident Sarka Kurkova was getting close to sleeping in the back of her van for the winter when she got the news there was a bed available for her.

She’s now in a warm and comfortable double room with secure tenure for the season.

“I hadn’t found any accommodation since May,” she said. “Accommodation is a basic need and I’m so happy now it’s been sorted I am able to relax.”

PHOTO: Supplied