Dozens of desperate and displaced Auckland residents want the new Government to urgently review eligibility requirements for the Temporary Accommodation Allowance.
Many affected by this year's North Island weather events have been declined the support payment and are calling for change.
Clinton Jones and his family have been out of their home now for more than 10 months.
"It's been a real struggle to be honest and just wondering what on earth's happening," he told Newshub.
Their property wasn't damaged, but the instability of the land behind has forced them into a nearby rental, until the council can decide whether their home is safe to live in or not.
"At the moment we're funding it through overdraft and anything else that we can, to find that extra money over and above the mortgage that we're paying," Jones said.
Because their house is owned by a trust, the family's been turned down twice for the Government's Temporary Accommodation Allowance that would see them get $560 a week.
"MSD (Ministry of Social Development) consider we don't own that property, yet our name is on the title as owners, alongside the trust and we contend that we do own it. And we also pay the bank the mortgage and I'm sure the bank would come looking for me if I stopped paying - because they consider I am very much the owner," Jones told Newshub.
The Ministry of Social Development said 132 applications have been processed so far, 90 have been granted temporary accommodation support and 42 declined - including 12 whose homes are held in trusts.
Other reasons were because their properties weren't impacted by the storms, they were uninsured, or without a tenancy agreement.
In July, Cabinet agreed to review the eligibility criteria, which affected homeowners say is strict and confusing - but nothing's been done.
"There was no mention of trusts or any basis of trusts holding people ineligible," Jones said.
The new Social Development Minister said she's currently seeking advice.
"Those are some of the existing criteria, so I just want to get advice on what some of the options are going forward so those who have the most significant need, we're able to provide some assistance," Louise Upston said.
"We've never had to put our hand out for anything but when times like this come along and we need to, to be declined is a real kick in the gut," Jones said.
And he said it'll be well into next year before there's any certainty over their category and their future.
