27 September 2021
DOIA21/22080620
Kurt Lorenzen
[FYI request #16338 email]
Dear Kurt
I refer to your request to the Ministry of Health dated 7 August 2021, partially transferred to Te
Tūāpapa Kura Kāinga - the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development (the Ministry) on 30 August
2021, for the following:
Please provide all relevant information around the 1.9 bil ion dollars earmarked for Mental
Health NZ. Including, money spent on paid consultants.
We have interpreted your request to be for information about the $1.9 bil ion allocated to mental
health initiatives in Budget 2019. The two relevant Budget initiatives for which the Ministry has
responsibility are Transitional Housing and Housing First.
What the support includes
Transitional Housing and Housing First providers are skil ed in supporting households with a range
of social and tenancy-related needs. The support includes, but is not limited to, budgeting or
employment advice and connecting people to specialist services, such as medical facilities or mental
health and addiction services.
Transitional housing provides warm, safe and dry short-term accommodation and tailored housing
related support services, including referrals to mental health or addiction support providers as may
be assessed on a case-by-case basis.
Housing First is an initiative that houses and supports people who have been homeless for a long
time or who are experiencing homelessness and face multiple and complex issues. Housing First
recognises it is much easier for people to address issues, such as poor physical or mental health,
once they are housed. The approach is to provide housing quickly and then offer tailored support for
as long as it is needed to help people stay housed and lead better lives.
Increasing the number of Transitional Housing places and continuing the rollout of Housing First
contribute to towards the vision set out in the Aotearoa New Zealand Homelessness Action Plan
(HAP). The HAP is a cross-agency plan that was developed to prevent and reduce homelessness,
with focus areas on prevention, supply, support and system enablers. Among the range of initiatives
in the HAP, the Ministry of Health is also leading on improving transitions from acute mental health
and addiction inpatient units as well as access to healthcare for people who are experiencing
homelessness.
More information on the HAP can be found on the Ministry website at the following link:
www.hud.govt.nz/community-and-public-housing/addressing-homelessness/aotearoa-
homelessness-action-plan-2020-2023/
Mid-term review of mental health and addiction package
A comprehensive mid-term review of the 2019 $1.9 billion mental health and addiction package has
been published online and assesses the total package of initiatives, including the two vote housing
initiatives set out above. The review paper provides background and funding allocations, as well as
focussing on delivery of the outputs, risks and barriers to delivery, and whether the appropriate
governance, planning, reporting mechanisms are in place.
The full briefing is available at the following link:
https:/ dpmc.govt.nz/publications/implementation-
unit-mid-term-review-2019-mental-health-package
As this information is publicly available, your request for all relevant information is therefore
refused under section 18(d) of the Act.
You also asked for money spent on paid consultants. The Ministry has used contractors from time
to time to enable it to continue to deliver housing supply, including backfilling staff. Please advise if
you require further information.
You have the right to seek an investigation and review of my response by the Ombudsman, in
accordance with section 28(3) of the Official Information Act. The relevant details can be found on
the Ombudsman’s websit
e www.ombudsman.parliament.nz.
Yours sincerely
Anne Shaw
Deputy Chief Executive
Housing Supply, Response and Partnerships
Ministry of Housing and Urban Development
