07 November 2022
C157572
Mohammed Khan
[FYI request #20495 email]
Tēnā koe Mohammed
Thank you for your email of 9 September 2022 to the Department of Corrections – Ara
Poutama Aotearoa, requesting information about people being released from prison into
emergency housing. Your request has been considered under the Official Information Act
1982 (OIA).
Public safety is our top priority, and no person would be permitted to reside at an address if
it was considered that the risk could not be safely managed and public safety upheld.
Around 15,000 people are released from prison every year and finding suitable
accommodation for people who are lawfully required to be released from prison is one of
our most significant challenges. The vast majority of people return home to family or make
their own arrangements about where to live.
Some people require assistance with finding a place to live. Corrections provides support to
people subject to community-based sentences and who have been released from prison in a
range of ways, including accommodation. The level of support and accommodation
placement is dependent on the level of risk and the order or sentence that the person is
subject to.
Emergency accommodation is provided to people who have an immediate accommodation
need and where al other accommodation options have been exhausted. A nationwide
agreement is in place between the Ministry of Social Development (MSD) and Corrections
which governs the placement of people into emergency accommodation.
In recent years, in response to an increasing shortage of supply options in the housing
market, particularly for those with complex needs, we have increased investment in
accommodation and support services from $3.8 million in 2016 to over $7 million per
annum. In addition, Corrections received $57.6 million in Budget 2018 to deliver housing
and support services to people serving community-based sentences, on bail awaiting trial,
or who have recently left prison.
You requested:
NATIONAL OFFICE, WELLINGTON
Mayfair House, 44 – 52 The Terrace, Wellington, 6011, Private Box 1206, Wellington 6140,
Phone +64 4 460 3000
www.corrections.govt.nz
2
In light of the revelations of ex-prisoners being funneled to already overburdened
Rotorua social housing, I am requesting information held by MSD about the areas to
which released prisoners have been sent under the emergency housing agreement
between MSD and Corrections.
Assuming it is available back that far, I would prefer to receive this for the past five
years (to provide sufficient temporal context), and for the highest spatial resolution
possible, but a spatial resolution to the local or regional council level is fine. Temporal
resolution of a year would be fine, though I can summarize the data myself if it is held
in a more detailed form. Electronic format as a spreadsheet/CSV is preferred, a
scanned report is fine if not available.
If this data is somehow not available, I assume that you would be happy to specify
that 'Corrections holds no information as to where released prisoners sent to
emergency housing are settled.'
Corrections is responsible for locating and funding emergency accommodation for a small
number of high-risk people. Other people released from prison are eligible for MSD’s
Emergency Housing Special Needs Grant.
Therefore, the information being requested is best suited for MSD to respond to as the
information is held by them. MSD have advised they received the same request from you
and that you can expect to hear from MSD in due course.
However, we can provide data that we hold regarding definitive placements into emergency
accommodation, which is limited to those where there is a contract between Corrections
and the emergency accommodation provider. Other accommodation, such as motels, is
used as a last option and as a temporary measure, and is not included in the below data.
Please see the below table for the number of people managed by Corrections who have
been referred to emergency accommodation over the last five financial years, broken down
by the district the person was referred from.
REGION DISTRICT
2017/ 2018/ 2019/ 2020/ 2021/
18
19
20
21
22
Northern Auckland
12
-
4
2
6
Northern Manukau
10
4
7
10
7
Northern Taitokerau
6
2
-
12
11
Northern Waitemata
2
-
1
7
5
Central
Taupo/Rotorua/Tokoroa
-
-
-
1
1
Central
Waikato
-
6
1
7
3
Lower
North
East Coast
-
2
-
1
-
Lower
North
Wairarapa/Manawatu
-
-
2
-
-
3
Lower
North
Wellington
4
5
3
4
-
Lower
North
Whanganui/Taranaki
-
-
-
1
-
Southern Canterbury
19
20
6
4
3
Otago And South/Mid
Southern Canterbury
7
9
4
8
3
Southland And Central/South
Southern Otago
-
1
2
-
1
Please note that this response may be published on Corrections’ website. Typically,
responses are published quarterly, or as otherwise determined. Your personal information
including name and contact details will be removed for publication.
I trust the information provided is of assistance. I encourage you to raise any concerns
about this response with Corrections. Alternatively, you are advised of your right to also
raise any concerns with the Office of the Ombudsman. Contact details are: Office of the
Ombudsman, PO Box 10152, Wel ington 6143.
Ngā mihi
Leigh Marsh
National Commissioner (acting)
