613 (2026). Hon Kieran McAnulty to the Associate Minister of Housing

613 (2026). Hon Kieran McAnulty to the Associate Minister of Housing: How, if at all, has the Ministry of Social Development expanded guidance for its staff on using discretion to assess applications for emergency housing grants since March 2025 and what effect, if any, has this had on the number of emergency housing grants declined?

Hon Tama Potaka: I’m advised by the Ministry of Social Development (the Ministry) that the existing policy provides staff with discretion to consider a person’s individual circumstances when considering eligibility for emergency housing (EH). The Ministry has strengthened its operational guidance for staff to assist them in using their discretion. This involves expanding guidance around: • considering a client’s circumstances (e.g., health, financial situation, support networks, access to resources) and their capacity to prevent or manage the situation. Better access to scenarios has also been included. For more information on considering a client’s circumstances I refer you to publicly available information: https://www.msd.govt.nz/about-msd-and-our-work/about-msd/legislation/notice-of-change/2024/emergency-housing-grants-programme.html and https://www.workandincome.govt.nz/map/income-support/extra-help/emergency-housing/client-has-caused-or-contributed-to-their-immediate-need-while-in-emergency-housing.html . • the use of exceptional circumstances where staff may use their discretion to approve Emergency Housing. For example, if a person’s assets or income are over the limit to access emergency housing because they are receiving payments for an enduring medical or disability. Staff may consider there are exception circumstances and apply discretion to approve Emergency Housing. I am further advised that the Ministry has also strengthened guidance around making a short term EH grant (of 1-3 nights), providing scenarios and examples of best practice. For example, where a household have been accepted in Transitional Housing but their move date is not for another two or three days. The Ministry may approve a short stay grant (1 -3 days) to meet the cost of temporary accommodation until the whānau can move into Transitional Housing. The Ministry continues to support clients into alternatives to emergency housing such as transitional housing and private rentals alongside sustaining their homes through Housing Support Products.