On 1 July 2026, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development is now part of the new Ministry for Cities, Environment, Regions and Transport.

Accessing sustaining tenancies

Sustaining tenancies works to prevent homelessness by funding community-based services to help individuals, families and whānau who are at risk of losing their tenancy.

Who is Sustaining Tenancies for?

Sustaining Tenancies is a service for tenants in private rentals or public housing who are at risk of losing their place to live.

How tenants can access to Sustaining Tenancies’ services

Tenants can refer themselves or be referred by another agency or community organisation. Support service providers can reach out to tenants through:

  • government departments and agencies
  • public and private landlords and tenancy services
  • local Māori organisations and iwi
  • local GPs and health navigators
  • local community organisations.

The history of sustaining tenancies 

Sustaining tenancies started in 2017 as a trial to support 940 individuals and whānau who were at risk of losing their public housing tenancies in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch. A further 650 places were added to the trial between October 2019 and June 2020.  

The programme has been redesigned and expanded as part of the Aotearoa Homelessness Action Plan, with funding to provide 1,550 places per year for three years to June 2023. In response to the immediate impact of COVID-19, 600 places were brought forward to Year One (from Year Three). Support service providers started delivering the redesigned service around the country from July 2020.  

See more about the Aoteaoroa Homelessness Action Plan(external link)

Sustaining tenancies and MAIHI 

Māori are disproportionately affected by the housing crisis. Te MAIHI o te Whare Māori - Māori and Iwi Housing Innovation (MAIHI) is a framework and strategy, created by us in partnership with Māori, to reset the housing system so it delivers better solutions for Māori.  

MAIHI’s vision is that all whānau have: 

  • access to warm, dry and safe homes, with the security of being able to stay in them for as long as is appropriate for their circumstances 
  • connections to the services they need to be able to sustain their housing 
  • opportunities to fully participate in their communities.  

Read more about MAIHI(external link)

Find Sustaining Tenancies support services

  • Northland

    Kāhui Tū Kaha - Wellsford, Whangārei, Dargaville

    He Korowai Trust - Kaitaia

    Ngāti Hine Health Trust - Whangārei, Kawakawa, Kaikohe, Kerikeri

    One Double Five Whare Awhina Community House - Whangārei

    Waitomo Papakāinga Development Society Incorporated - Kaitaia

  • Auckland

    Auckland City Mission - Central Auckland

    De Paul House -  Central Auckland, North Shore, Warkworth

    Emerge Aotearoa - West Auckland, North Shore

    Kāhui Tū Kaha - East Auckland, Central Auckland, North Shore

    Lifewise - Central Auckland

    LinkPeople - South Auckland

    Monte Cecilia Housing Trust - South Auckland, Papakura, Takanini

    MUMA Whānau Services - South Auckland

    STRIVE Community Trust - South Auckland

    Te Whānau o Waipareira - West Auckland

    The Salvation Army - West Auckland, South Auckland

    Turuki Healthcare - Central Auckland, South Auckland

    VisionWest Community Trust - West Auckland

    WALSH Trust - West Auckland, North Shore

  • Waikato

    LinkPeople - Hamilton

    Emerge Aotearoa - Hamilton

    Taumarunui Community Kōkiri Trust - Taumarunui, Te Kuiti

    Waiuku Family Support Network - Hamilton, Ngāruawāhia, Huntly

    He Iwi Kaingā - Turangi, Taupō

  • Bay of Plenty

    LinkPeople - Tauranga, Rotorua

    The Salvation Army - Whakatāne, Ōpōtiki, Rotorua

    WERA Aotearoa Community Trust (WACT) - Tokoroa, Rotorua

  • East Coast and Hawke's Bay

    Emerge Aotearoa - Napier, Hastings

    Te Runanganui o Ngāti Porou (TRONPnui) - Gisborne

    The Salvation Army - Napier, Hastings

  • Central

    Emerge Aotearoa - Palmerston North, Masterton

    Tuatahi Centre - Palmerston North, Feilding

  • Wellington

    Atareira - Upper Hutt

    DCM - Wellington Central

    Emerge Aotearoa - Lower Hutt, Porirua

    Kahungunu Whānau Services - Wellington Central, Lower Hutt

    Tākiri Mai Te Ata Whānau Ora Collective - Lower Hutt

    Tuatahi Centre - Wainuiomata

    Wesley Community Action - Porirua

  • Marlborough and Tasman

    Christchurch Methodist Mission - Blenheim

    Gateway Housing Trust - Tasman

  • West Coast

    Gateway Housing Trust - West Coast

  • Canterbury

    Comcare - Christchurch

    Christchurch Methodist Mission - Christchurch

    Emerge Aotearoa - Christchurch

    VisionWest Community Trust - Christchurch

  • Southern

    Catholic Social Services Dunedin - Dunedin

    Emerge Aotearoa - Southland, Dunedin

    Methodist Mission Southern - Southland