The government has successfully relocated nearly 1,500 children from emergency housing motels to more suitable homes.
According to Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka, the Priority One policy has contributed significantly to this achievement. The policy prioritizes families with children who have been in emergency housing for over 12 weeks and provides them with support to move into social housing. As a result, 726 households with children have transitioned from emergency housing into social housing.
A mother of seven spoke about the positive impact of moving her family into Kāinga Ora social housing. Her children are thriving in their new home, able to focus on their studies and think about future careers. The government aims to reduce the number of people living in emergency housing by 75 per cent by 2030.
To support this goal, the Budget 24 invested $83.477 million in emergency housing support services, including case managers, housing brokers, and ready-to-rent courses. Officials are monitoring the effectiveness of these initiatives while respecting individuals' right to privacy. The data shows that around 80 per cent of those leaving emergency housing move into some form of social, transitional, or private housing due to the support they receive.