Government launches innovative trial to help those in emergency housing.
A new Government initiative aims to provide tailored support to individuals with complex needs living in emergency housing, as part of efforts to reduce the number of people in such accommodation by 75 per cent by 2030. Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka revealed that a social investment approach will be trialed for up to 100 single people and couples without children, who have been in emergency housing for more than 12 months.
The two-year trial, starting this month, will see Wellington City Mission and Emerge Aotearoa in Waikato become the first organisations to provide wraparound support tailored to each individual's needs. This may include enrolment in primary health care, budgeting and employment services, as well as help with managing a tenancy agreement or re-engaging with family and community support.
Minister Potaka stated that successful participants will not only gain access to more permanent housing but also be better equipped to maintain it, leading to improved economic, social, and health outcomes. The trial aims to determine whether this tailored approach can effectively help individuals with complex needs transition out of emergency housing and establish a stable home life.