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. Some of these actions were impacted by COVID-19 last year, but have progressed in the last six months.  

Progress September 2020 – February 2021

Accelerated immediate actions to respond to Māori homelessness 

Actions to address Māori homelessness have been prioritised in the first year of the HAP. This includes providing financial support to Māori providers and working with Iwi and Māori partners on projects to increase housing supply.  

Delivered investment though He Taupua Fund 

He Taupua Fund supports projects that build the capability of organisations that use kaupapa Māori approaches to deliver housing related services that assist whānau experiencing homelessness or housing insecurity.  

These include: 

• whānau trusts 
• Ahuwhenua trusts 
• hapū, iwi, and registered Māori housing providers.  

Applications for the fund closed in November, and 37 projects were approved for funding.  

Completed round one of the Local Innovation and Partnership Fund 

The Local Innovation and Partnership Fund supports local initiatives to respond to, and prevent, homelessness.  In round one, a total of $4.096 million was released to support seven local initiatives. $12.5 million worth of funding remains available for future funding rounds.  

Continued to increase transitional housing 

As of February 2021, 1,005 transitional housing places have been delivered under the HAP. Another 2,000 places have been committed in the 2020 Budget. See the Public Housing Plan for more information. 

Increased the number of Sustaining Tenancies places  

Sustaining Tenancies provides practical support to help people keep their tenancies and prevent homelessness. As of January 2021, 604 households have taken part in the programme, and 112 households have successfully completed the programme. 

Support for a percentage of clients in Emergency Housing

In 2019 MSD received funding under the NZ Homelessness action plan to provide support for a percentage of clients in Emergency Housing

The funding covered roles and initiatives such as  

• Intensive Case Managers
• Navigators/ Support Services
• Housing Brokers
• Ready to Rent programme.

New accommodation places for people transitioning from government care  

New accommodation places have are being delivered to support safe transition for: 

• young people leaving Oranga Tamariki care 
• women leaving prison 
• returning overseas offenders  
• people leaving acute mental health and addiction inpatient units.  

Piloting a Rapid Rehousing approach 

Rapid Rehousing supports individuals and whānau into permanent housing, to avoid a return to homelessness. A Rapid Rehousing trial began in July 2020.