Children and young people have what they need
Housing First is a highly successful, internationally proven way to house and support chronically homeless people or homeless people with multiple, complex needs. Housing First finds housing for a person irrespective of their condition (such as mental illness or substance abuse). It also provides wraparound support and services, for as long as needed, to help them stay housed and improve their lives.
The 2018 and 2019 Budgets provided significant funding to increase the number of places and expand to new locations and to strengthen the programme in existing high-need cities and regions: Whangarei, the mid-far North, Auckland, Hamilton, Rotorua, Tauranga, Hawke's Bay, Wellington and the Hutt, Nelson, Blenheim, and Christchurch.
The number of new individuals and whānau accepted to the Housing First programme from 1 July 2019 to 31 May 2020 was 805, and 664 from July 2020 to November 2020. Those currently housed through the programme increased by 292 from July 2020 to November 2020.
A provider has been contracted to evaluate the Housing First programme and Rapid Rehousing trial. This is due to be completed by December 2022