15269 (2025). Tamatha Paul to the Associate Minister of Housing

15269 (2025). Tamatha Paul to the Associate Minister of Housing: How many people, if any, have been declined Emergency Housing Special Needs Grants since May 2024, broken down by the reasons they were declined?

Hon Tama Potaka: With respect to emergency housing declines, I am advised by the Ministry of Social Development that its practice and data capture has improved, with all applications now having the result recorded, providing greater transparency for clients. This makes it difficult to compare data pre- and post-implementation of the new rules for entry into emergency housing. Where clients have been declined emergency housing, their need may have been met through other forms of assistance such as Housing Brokerage, Bond Grant, Moving Costs Grant, Costs (rent) in Advance Grant or a Tenancy Costs Cover Grant. People may also be referred to Transitional Housing Providers contracted by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development. Transitional Housing provides accommodation and support for clients to stay for up to 12 weeks, while they look for more stable longer-term accommodation. I refer the Member to the attached table providing the number of Emergency Housing Grants declined during 1 May 2024 to 28 February 2025 by month and reason for decline.