How we’re tracking: progress on the Homelessness Action Plan

The HAP contains 18 immediate actions, which address the most critical points in our homelessness response and get us started on a longer-term approach. Despite the ongoing pressure on the homelessness sector due to COVID-19, good progress has been made. All of the 18 immediate initiatives in the action plan are underway with most now implemented and tracking towards their targets.

Progress September 2021 – February 2022

Increased the number of Sustaining Tenancies places

1,051 participants engaged in the programme and 583 who have completed the programme, as at the end of December 2021 there were. An additional 200 Māori and/or Iwi places have been identified and work is underway to secure these.

Established a progressive home ownership scheme

To the end of February 2022, 58 households have moved into new PHO homes.

Applications for the Progressive Home Ownership Fund (PHO) opened in October 2021 with 414 applicants meeting the eligibility criteria, and more than 2,500 people have started the application process. Since October 2021, four homes have been purchased with the assistance of First Home Partner. In the Te Au Taketake and Provider pathway, 16 loan facility agreements have been made available to providers to support the development of 227 PHO homes around the country.

Continued roll out Housing First

4,289 households have been accepted and 1,326 households have been housed by the programme, as of January 2022. An evaluation of Housing First is currently underway.

Investment through He Kūkū ki te Kāinga

100% of funding has been allocated to He Kūkū ki te Kāinga providers, with 70 new houses delivered for 158 individuals/whānau, exceeding the target of 50 news houses for 100 individuals/whānau.

Completed round one of the Local Innovation and Partnership Fund

$4.1m was committed through seven round one grants. Round two fund applications opened from November 2021 to February 2022.

Previous funding rounds

Review of HAP

An 18-month review of the action plan was undertaken from August to October 2021.  This review was informed by insights from sector experts, from the government agencies leading immediate actions, and the cross-agency working group supporting the action plan.  

While good progress has been made to date, the next period of implementation will prioritise work in the following five areas that emerged as critical through the review: 

• strengthening the Homelessness Sector to be more responsive to the needs, issues and challenges experienced by Māori and building the capacity of organisations to provide Kaupapa Māori approaches and solutions to reduce homelessness for Māori 
• ongoing delivery of public and transitional housing 
• support for rangatahi young people experiencing, or at risk of homelessness 
• improving access to health and mental health and addiction support for people experiencing homelessness 
• strengthen prevention measures aimed at improving the use of emergency housing over time.