What specific measures, if any, are in place to ensure people leaving prison have stable accommodation, as the Homelessness Insights report to 31 March 2026 records the number of people on post-release orders with no fixed abode in Canterbury doubling from 52 to 104 between March 2025 and March 2026? and 1 other question

Answer

On average, over 11,000 people are required to be released from prison each year and a further 26,000 are managed on community-based sentences. The Department of Corrections (Corrections) has work underway to improve their understanding of people's living situation on release. At present, the No Fixed Abode category is a catch-all that also includes situations when people do not share their address with Corrections. Not every person who is released is required to have approved accommodation as part of their release conditions. When people are not being released on post release orders or conditions, Corrections does not have a mandate to require them to provide their address. Housing is also dynamic and a person's housing situation/status can change rapidly, including in the days after their release. Corrections is working towards better ways to record this. Additionally, Corrections funds providers of supported accommodation services targeted towards people who need it most. This is typically short-term to support prisoners' transition back into the community until they can secure stable long-term housing. I am concerned about the current state of housing support for people released from prison, including after time spent on remand. The issues highlighted in the Homelessness Insights report about people across New Zealand serving post-release orders with no fixed abode are an example of the issues we are trying to address with the shifts we’ve announced in the social housing system. The Ministry for Cities, Environment, Regions and Transport (MCERT) is working with the Department of Corrections to better understand the housing support needs of people who have been in prison.