A University of Otago nationwide survey shows students are more than twice as likely as the general population to be shivering in cold, damp and mouldy homes, and more targeted support is needed to improve their living conditions.
Housing and health researcher Dr Kimberley O’Sullivan, of Wellington, said of the 522 tertiary students who responded, 35% had mould larger than an A4 sheet of paper growing in their houses, almost half said their homes were damp, 67% could see their breath when they were inside, and 79% reported shivering inside their home.
About 75% said they cut back on heating to save money, and some had their electricity disconnected because their household could not afford to pay the energy bill, Dr O’Sullivan said.
"Concerningly, students told us they had made compromises on food and other necessities, and that living in energy hardship had a negative impact on their health and wellbeing.
"Some became physically ill from living in damp, cold and mouldy houses."
One Dunedin student said her children had asthma and one had been admitted to hospital with pneumonia.
Other students from around the country reported taking medication to manage the anxiety they felt from being cold, feeling "gross and unhappy" in themselves because of their
living situation, and experiencing hypervigilance and depression.
While StudyLink offered grants of up to $200 to help with outstanding power bills or to reconnect energy supplies, 92% of students were unaware it was an option, Dr O’Sullivan said.
"Support is either limited or inaccessible and is poorly communicated to those who could benefit from it."
Instead, students reported using their student loans to help pay for their electricity bills.
A Dunedin student surveyed said it was "pathetic" that students were the only demographic given a loan instead of government assistance, and the winter energy payment was "barely anything".
"Now I have an extra $1000 in debt because I wanted to stay warm."
Another Dunedin student was angry the Government did not offer extra support to students during the Covid-19 lockdowns.
"The course-related cost increase during Covid was a slap in the face to students who lost/potentially lost jobs," he said.
"Having to add money to their student loans in order to stay warm and fed was not acceptable.
"Student allowances should have been bolstered during this time to relieve the stress on students."
