What evidence, if any, does the Government hold that any reduction in the number of people living without shelter is attributable to its policy interventions rather than to broader economic conditions, as the Homelessness Insights report to 31 March 2026 states it is not possible to tell which?

Answer

I am advised it is not possible to determine whether changes described in the Homelessness Insights report reflect existing trends and broader economic and social contexts or are attributable to policy changes. The locally led short-term actions announced late last year have made a difference in the areas in which they have been delivered. For example, between November 2025 and January 2026, 177 people entered a new transitional housing pilot programme in Auckland and Hamilton, and housing assistance centres delivered more than 1,500 support activities.