“The need is phenomenal, look at the number of people staying in motels,” he said. Peiffer said he had been working with Rotorua’s homeless for more than six years now, “and it’s definitely getting worse”. He said people were being squeezed between rising rents, utility and food bills. “It’s out of control,” he said. Chadwick’s stance was also backed by Professionals real estate principal Steve Lovegrove, though he cautioned any new properties needed to be built to target the right market. Benn Bathgate/Stuff Rotorua homeless advocate Elmer Peiffer said the housing crisis was evident simply from the number of people in motel emergency accommodation.