24736 (2026). Hon Willow-Jean Prime to the Minister for Social Development and Employment

24736 (2026). Hon Willow-Jean Prime to the Minister for Social Development and Employment: What evidence is behind the claim that “This will result in net savings for the Crown by reducing the number of households in Emergency Housing” in the Emergency Housing – Extending Scaled-down Support Services appropriation in the summary of initiatives for Budget 2026?

Hon Louise Upston: I am advised by the Ministry of Social Development (the Ministry) that a recent evaluation on the Emergency Housing Support Services (EHSS) completed in April 2026 found that EHSS are effective and valued; they are also associated with sustained exits from Emergency Housing (EH). EHSS aim to help clients exit EH and move into sustainable, long-term accommodation. Over 99 percent of EH exits were sustained at 180 days, with only 0.5 percent of support service participants returning to EH. I am further advised that the number of EH clients has reduced following its peak in late 2021; funding for EHSS will be important for managing the inflow and maintaining the current low number of EH clients. The savings from maintaining the current low number of people in EH, as opposed to increases in EH clients that were forecast if EHSS were not continued, is expected to be greater than the cost of investment. This is also my response to WPQ 24739 (2026)