Some South Dunedin residents are sleeping in armchairs in the dry parts of their homes and struggling to afford food in the wake of the recent floods.
John and Sally Cunningham's house on Bay View Road Photo: RNZ / Ian Telfer
Dunedin City Council said about 1,250 properties were affected by last week's floods, and 280 families have been identified as needing serious assistance, with many still living in damp homes.
Council chief executive Sue Bidrose said some were still living in houses with damp carpets.
She said council staff and volunteers were helping people rip up carpets and dispose of any other flood-damaged items, such as furniture.
Council-provided skips are located at Hargest Crescent, Surrey Street, and Macandrew Road and more are on standby should people need them.
Ms Bidrose said South Dunedin was a stoic community, even though some residents were struggling to pay for food or pay their insurance excess to be able to repair their homes.
She said about 45 applications had been made to the city's mayoral fund so far to help families pay for food, new bedding or insurance excesses and the council was expecting many more.
"I visited a lovely couple where the flood waters had gone in plug holes and obviously blown the fridge and freezer out.
"They said: look our food has lasted until today, we're okay, we're ripping the carpets up, but it would be really nice if someone could send us a a food parcel."
Council staff and volunteers were helping people rip up carpets and dispose of any other flood-damaged items, such as furniture.
Ms Bidrose said council staff and volunteers door-knocked about 6000 properties in South Dunedin, parts of Mosgiel, Brighton and Kaikorai Valley, over the past week.