16 October 2024
Tēnā koe Ben Atkinson,
Official Information Act request
Thank you for your email of 6 September 2024 to Hon Tama Potaka, requesting
information on homelessness.
Part of your request was transferred to the Ministry of Social Development (the
Ministry) to respond to. I have considered your request under the Official
Information Act 1982 (the Act).
1. Are you able to advise whether every person presenting to MSD for
Emergency Housing will have an official application process?
Yes, there is an official application process for requests related to emergency
housing.
When a request for emergency housing is made, the Ministry must make a
decision on that request.
An application is considered any request for assistance for a particular need or
purpose, and that application does not have to:
• Be made in writing.
• Be on a specific form or,
• Name a particular type of assistance.
Generally emergency housing requests will be booked an in-person appointment
to test eligibility unless there are mitigating circumstances where the
appointment could be conducted via phone.
Where a person approached the Ministry with an unmet housing need and
Ministry staff are able to identify suitable alternative accommodation (e.g.
Transitional Housing or private rental) it is possible that an application for
emergency housing would not be recorded.
The Ministry’s Contact Centre can also assess a request for emergency housing,
out of business hours, however this is generally for the initial few days, where
the applicant will be booked into a face-to-face appointment with a Case
Manager for subsequent emergency housing reviews.
Further information regarding emergency housing can be accessed through the
Work and Income website, the link has been provided below:
www.workandincome.govt.nz/housing/nowhere-to-stay/emergency-
housing/apply.html.
The Aurora Centre, 56 The Terrace, PO Box 1556, Wellington
– Telephone 04-916 3300 – Facsimile 04-918 0099
I will be publishing this decision letter, with your personal details deleted, on the
Ministry’s website in due course.
If you wish to discuss this response with us, please feel free to contact
[email address]. If you are not satisfied with my decision on your request regarding emergency
housing, you have the right to seek an investigation and review by the
Ombudsman. Information about how to make a complaint is available at
www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or 0800 802 602.
Ngā mihi nui
pp.
Magnus O’Neill
General Manager
Ministerial and Executive Services
