emergency housing
short-term accommodation for young people and their immediate family who have an urgent need for accommodation
establishing an immediate emergency housing need
When establishing a young person’s immediate emergency housing need, we need to understand their situation and what led them to us.
We need to know:
- their current living situation
- why the young person requires emergency housing (e.g. unable to find adequate housing, homelessness, etc)
- who they will need to be housed with (e.g. partner, dependent children, etc)
- any health and safety concerns for the young person and any family being housed with them.
We also need to ensure they are receiving their full and correct entitlement.
A young person would be assessed as having an immediate emergency housing need if, within the next seven nights they:
- cannot remain in their usual place of residence (if any), and
- will not have access to other accommodation that is adequate for the needs of the young person and their immediate family in the short-term
no immediate emergency housing need
If a young person is assessed as not having an immediate emergency housing need, we should still assist them to help prevent and/or resolve any longer-term housing needs (e.g. considering assistance such as Accommodation Supplement, Temporary Additional Support, Housing Support Products)
alternative housing options
To identify options that will help resolve a young person’s emergency housing need, we must understand their situation and what has led to them needing immediate help with somewhere to live.
Once you establish the young person’s situation you can determine how to best meet their housing need. This includes seeing if the young person can meet their need from their own resources, if they are receiving their full and correct entitlement or non-emergency housing specific assistance, or if we need to consider the next steps of the process.
It is important to remember that while you need to work with the client to help resolve their immediate, short-term housing need, the conversations you have now are also important in helping them meet their longer-term housing need.
key considerations when interviewing the young person are:
- Where have they been living?
- What has led to their emergency housing situation?
- What factors are impacting them finding short-term and longer-term housing?
- What other factors are important when thinking about housing, e.g. the young person’s or their family’s health, court-imposed conditions, safety, and access to amenities such as work and school.
key considerations when you are working through the available options to meet their emergency housing need are:
- What accommodation options are appropriate given their situation and support needs?
- Can we address their emergency housing need as well as their longer-term housing need (e.g. sustain existing accommodation or secure new accommodation)?
- Are there friends or family they can stay with (in or out of the area)?
- Can they afford short-term accommodation options such as a hostel (for clients without children) or a unit in a campground?
These considerations will help you identify options appropriate for the young person and their family.
transitional housing
When a young person seeks help with housing, you should prioritise making a referral to a Transitional Housing (TH) provider. To do this, have the young person complete the Transitional Housing Consent form and submit a TH ART task to YSSU for processing. Transitional housing is short-term accommodation funded by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, intended for up to 12 weeks. During this time, providers assist young people in securing more permanent options, such as private rentals or public housing. If transitional housing is unavailable, an Emergency Housing Grant (EHG) can be offered to cover short-term accommodation for up to seven days.
emergency housing grant
Emergency Housing Grant (EHG) is a last-resort assistance designed to help those with an immediate emergency housing need. It is considered where the emergency housing need cannot be met in any other way and is available to those who meet the emergency housing criteria .
It is used when young people cannot access adequate accommodation and when all other support options have been explored. These options include:
- MSD financial assistance to help retain their current accommodation e.g. Accommodation Supplement (AS), Housing Support Products (HSP) and Temporary Additional Support (TAS)
- staying with family or friends
- transitional housing.
More information about the Youth Service Emergency Housing end-to-end process:
- Youth Service Emergency Housing end-to-end process
- Youth Service Emergency Housing end-to-end guidance
Who is eligible for an EHG?
Young people who:
- have nowhere to stay tonight or in the next 7 nights
- agree to meet responsibilities from the 8th night (if in emergency housing for more than 7 nights).
- meet an income and cash asset test (unless in exceptional circumstances)
- meet the residency and ordinarily resident requirement
We may also look at whether taiohi caused or contributed to their need for emergency housing. For example:
- they have moved out of their accommodation without a good reason and didn't have another place to move into, or
- had to move out of their accommodation because they:
- damaged the property, or
- didn't follow the supplier's rules of stay
Refer here for further information on the eligibility criteria for EH SNG
Note: If a young person’s benefit is suspended or reduced due to an obligations failure, you must resolve this before you recommend granting an EHG.
Responsibilities while in emergency housing
When a young person has been in emergency housing for more than 7 nights, they will have specific responsibilities that they need to meet starting from the 8th night. Your role is to help them understand these responsibilities and support them to complete activities to meet them. Here’s what you need to let taiohi know:
A young person's responsibilities:
- actively seek other housing options.
- engage with support services such as a housing broker or navigator, budget advisors, employment advisors, or other services that a young person is already working with.
- pay their emergency housing contribution on time.
Refer here for more information on emergency housing contribution
Face-to-Face Appointments
If the young person is likely to require emergency housing after the 8th night, schedule a face-to-face appointment a day or two before their check-out date. This will help ensure that their ongoing needs are met, and any further support can be arranged if required.
What happens if taiohi don’t meet their responsibilities
If a young person doesn't meet their new responsibilities and activities, and they don't have a good and sufficient reason, this will have consequences.
This could include:
o up to two warnings, and
o a 13-week non-entitlement period.
If the young person needs emergency housing during the 13-week non-entitlement period, assess whether they may meet the limited circumstances criteria that might allow them to access emergency housing again. Clearly communicate their options and help them understand their situation.
Security deposit for emergency housing
When young people stay in emergency housing, explain that the housing provider might require a security deposit. This deposit is intended to cover any potential losses or damages caused by the young person or anyone staying with them. It is a recoverable payment, usually covering up to 7 nights of accommodation costs. If an agreement cannot be reached, the matter may be taken to a Tribunal or court for resolution. If the young person did not check out of their accommodation, we will still cover the payment.
Emergency housing – what you need to know
This short guide tells taiohi the key things they need to know while they’re in emergency housing. It outlines what they can expect from MSD and from their accommodation supplier, what’s expected of them, and their rights while staying in emergency housing.
Download the emergency housing - what you need to know document here
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outlines the process that’s used to make decisions about EHGs, and whether to approve, decline or make them recoverable
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prompts you to think about what interventions may help the young person to meet their obligations.
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helps you understand the escalate process
How long can one EHG be granted for?
There are three periods we can grant an EHG for.
Up to seven nights – generally a young person’s first EHG is for a period up to seven nights (unless there has been a period of low availability) or when the young person does not meet the criteria for a longer grant period
Up to 14 nights – where MSD determines there is a period of low availability of emergency housing in the region (e.g. longer public holiday, special sporting events, etc.) and where the Youth Service national office notify Youth Service providers and YSSU, they will be able to grant an EHG for up to 14 nights.
Up to 21 nights – young people that meet the full criteria for 21-night grants can be granted for periods of up to 21 nights for any subsequent grants in an emergency housing event.
emergency housing supplier standards
If an accommodation provider wants to become an emergency housing supplier, they can sign up to our supplier standards. The standards detail our expectations of the level of service they need to provide. If a provider chooses to sign up we'll work with them first where possible, over any suppliers who haven't signed up to our standards.
You can review the emergency housing supplier standards here