40791 (2025). Arena Williams to the Minister for Social Development and Employment

40791 (2025). Arena Williams to the Minister for Social Development and Employment: What support does the Ministry of Social Development provide to applicants who have difficulty obtaining housing decline letters for the purposes of applying to the social housing register, if any?

Hon Louise Upston: The Ministry of Social Development advises that a client must be at risk or in serious housing need to be eligible for social housing. The Ministry of Social Development further advises me that they have discretion to request evidence to establish housing need where it becomes apparent a client has not taken reasonable action to find a home. This evidence is not in a form of a housing decline letter but could be evidence such as housing applications through a rental company. There is no specific number of houses an applicant must have applied for to establish serious housing need as it will depend on the client's circumstances and the rental market in the area.