Further to WPQ 612 (2026), of the 337 people identified as sleeping rough, how many were referred to Housing First providers, and how many have since been placed into housing through Housing First, if any?

Answer

I am advised that the Ministry of Social Development’s (the Ministry) Tactical Plan seeks to refocus existing Ministry resources to support the Government’s efforts to address rough sleeping. In locations where the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development (MHUD) contracts Housing First services, such as Auckland, Ministry staff are, as part of their core functions, supporting provider-led engagement with people who may be sleeping rough. In this context, Ministry engagement may include, but is not limited to, supporting individuals to complete a social housing assessment, referring them to other specialist supports, and/or assessing eligibility for financial assistance. I am further advised that in locations where MHUD does not contract Housing First services, the Ministry has utilised $1,516,666 of Emergency Housing Support Funding to contract an additional 14 housing navigators across Auckland, Hamilton, Napier, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin through community-based organisations to support people who may be sleeping rough to connect with appropriate supports. The precise nature of this engagement varies by location and according to individual need. This funding is time-limited and is currently due to expire on 30 June 2026. I am also advised that the costs of, and time allocated by, Ministry staff to the Tactical Plan and to the Ministry’s partnerships with community organisations are generally baselined and cannot be disaggregated in the manner suggested by the Member. In addition, I am advised that, as the Tactical Plan represents a refocusing of existing resources, any evaluation will be undertaken as part of the Ministry’s existing business improvement processes and/or through the evaluation of Emergency Housing Support Services. Finally, I am advised that outcomes from Ministry staff engagement with people who may be sleeping rough — including engagement under the Tactical Plan or through partnerships with community organisations — are recorded on individual client records and would require significant manual collation and divert staff from their core duties. In accordance with the Speaker’s Ruling 210/6, I consider that the time, and hence the expense, of answering this part of the Member’s questions is not in the public interest. This is also my response to WPQ’s 4174, 4176, 4177, 4179, 4178, 4180, 4181, 4182, 4183.