81948 (2024). Hon Dr Duncan Webb to the Associate Minister of Housing

81948 (2024). Hon Dr Duncan Webb to the Associate Minister of Housing: What processes, if any, does the Ministry of Social Development utilise to record and/or keep track of the number of people asking for access to emergency housing each month, including those who are not offered an assessment?

Hon Tama Potaka: When an application for emergency housing is made, the Ministry of Social Development (the Ministry) is required to make a determination on the applicant’s eligibility for emergency housing or social housing. All housing applications are recorded along with the outcome of that decision. In cases where an individual approaches the Ministry regarding an unmet housing need and staff can identify appropriate alternative housing options, such as Transitional Housing or private rentals, it is possible that the request for housing assistance may not be recorded as an application, or the decision made (approve/decline). However, staff will record the conversation in notes on the individual client’s file. This information is not compiled centrally and would require manual collation to provide. This is also my response to Written Parliamentary Questions 81941, 81942, 81944, 81945, and 81947.