Landlords are being asked to help the homeless as community providers struggle to find homes for those living on the street.
One tenant, who asked to remain anonymous, told 1News he was homeless for over a year.
"I panicked at first, yeah. I thought that was it, life is done."
He lived on the streets of Christchurch and was in and out of emergency accommodation.
Now, he's making music in a privately-owned one bedroom flat.
"It's given me a chance to actually re-engage in life and other things because while I was on the streets, getting a job becomes a very difficult thing."
The home was organised for the tenant by Housing First Ōtautahi.
Housing First Ōtautahi's Debbie Watson said there's "always a housing shortage – there's a housing shortage all over the country and Christchurch is no different".
"It's always a struggle for people to find homes, especially people that are on a low income."
Last month, there were over 25,000 households on the waitlist for public housing.
Housing First Ōtautahi is asking private landlords for help to help reduce that number.
Watson said some are "actually very sympathetic and empathetic" while others are "really not interested".
"We just have to keep going and find the people that really want to work with us."
The anonymous tenant said he was thankful for the organisation's support.
"I can wake up in the morning, take a shower, go and do my thing, and know that I've got a place to get back to."
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