© FairfaxThe housing crisis in Christchurch has left mother-of-two Amber Breiter with no choice but to live in a single garage
Horror stories of Christchurch families living in garages and tents continue to surface almost two years on from the February 2011 earthquake.
Some families are still stranded in sheds or illegally overcrowding friends' and relatives' houses.
Meanwhile, rental housing prices show no sign of abating and welfare agencies believe this year could be worse than the last.
Demand on Christchurch's social services continues to increase: people who have never needed help before are queuing up at food banks and many families still face impoverished living conditions.
City Missioner Michael Gorman said the unprecedented demand on the mission's alcohol and drug services, foodbank and night shelters "has not eased at all".
"There is a lot more money going into rent and a lot less money going into living."
The number of people approaching the mission suffering from poverty or mental health issues was rampant, he said.
One of his social workers had a week-long waiting list of families needing assistance with school uniform grants. Another had recently been supporting a young family living in a tent, and a couple renting a washhouse.