19253 (2025). Tamatha Paul to the Associate Minister of Housing

19253 (2025). Tamatha Paul to the Associate Minister of Housing: How is the government tracking housing outcomes for people exiting emergency accommodation, and why is the status of 20% of them unknown?

Hon Tama Potaka: I am advised that the Ministry of Social Development (MSD) can identify people who have accessed emergency housing (EH) and see if they have accessed other MSD housing related services that give an indication of their housing situation. MSD can identify when someone who has received the Emergency Housing Grant later accesses Accommodation Supplement, has attained a Social Housing Tenancy or has been placed with a Transitional Housing provider. The modelling is limited to those who have accessed further housing support after leaving EH and households are under no obligation to tell government where they are moving to. For example, we are unable to identify those who have entered a private rental without accessing an Accommodation Supplement. It is unlikely that the MSD will ever achieve a complete view because people are not required to let MSD know where they live once they stop receiving assistance. MSD need to balance the requirement to monitor the effectiveness of their interventions with the need to respect individuals’ reasonable right to privacy. The government recognises that many of the people accessing EH experience multiple complexities and require tailored support to help them address the issues underlying their homelessness and to find a home. As people in EH can be at risk of having complex needs, MSD have also introduced a “limited circumstance” pathway for those most vulnerable. People who have multiple risk factors, are experiencing a crisis beyond their control and are at risk of current or near-term harm, will be able to temporarily continue to access EH until risk to near term harm is resolved. Where a client is declined EH assistance, it is important to note that there may still be other services, packages and supports the client can access through MSD. MSD will continue to provide the client with options and advice on alternative housing options and financial and other support to access those. A Supplementary Analysis Report on the impacts in changes to the gateway into emergency housing can be found here: - https://www.msd.govt.nz/documents/about-msd-and-our-work/publications-resources/regulatory-impact-statements/supplementary-analysis-report-tightening-the-gateway-into-emergency-housing.pdf