housing support products and services
learn about the housing products and services available to help taiohi get or keep sustainable housing
housing support products
Housing Support Products are a suite of financial products that can support young people to secure and maintain accommodation.
On this page you can find a basic explanation of all the housing support products. Click on the product to learn what it can cover and find links to more information on the Work and Income website.
For a more in-depth learning experience, check out the eLearning module.
housing support products elearning | Youth Service providers
Accommodation Costs in Advance Grant
Accommodation Costs in Advance Grant
This recoverable payment can help young people pay for rent, board or cabin higher in advance where the supplier (eg, the landlord or head tenant) has agreed for the young person to move into the accommodation if they pay the accommodation costs in advance.
Accommodation Costs in Arrears Grant
Accommodation Costs in Arrears Grant
This is a recoverable payment to help young people pay for overdue accommodation costs so that they can keep their housing.
Accommodation Security Cover Grant (for housing arrangements that don't have a tenancy agreement)
Accommodation Security Cover Grant (for housing arrangements that don't have a tenancy agreement)
This grant can help young people get into and stay in accommodation by providing a 'letter of assurance' that MSD can cover any costs the young person has when they leave, if they leave within one year. If they stay for another year, they can apply for another grant after the one year period has ended.
If the young person needs to pay costs when they leave, the young person will need to pay the money back to MSD.
Bond Grant (including Pet Bond)
Bond Grant (including Pet Bond)
This recoverable payment can help people pay bond when they are entering a tenancy that the Residential Tenancies Act applies to (like tenancy agreements for renting situations).
If a young person is asked to pay a Pet Bond and a General Bond, the Bond Grant may be able to cover the lowest of:
- 4 weeks rent, or
- the amount your landlord asks for, or
- your share of the bond.
Moving Costs Grant
Moving Costs Grant
This recoverable payment is for people who need help paying for moving their household furniture, appliances, personal effects and personal belongings into rental housing.
Tenancy Costs Cover
Tenancy Costs Cover
This grant can help young people get a rental property by providing a 'letter of assurance' that MSD can cover any costs the young person has at the end of their tenancy if it ends within two years.
If the young person needs to pay costs when they leave, the young person will need to pay the money back to MSD.
Transition to Alternative Housing Grant
Transition to Alternative Housing Grant
This grant is for people who are moving out of public housing into a private rental property.
A person can receive this payment once in their life, and they do not need to pay this back.
housing support services
Housing Support Services are available to help young people get the skills and connections they need to get into sustainable housing.
These are not available to read about on Work and Income or MSD websites, but they will be covered briefly here and you can talk with your Manager Regional housing or appointed housing contact for more information.
Housing Brokers
Housing Brokers
Housing Brokers work with whānau in emergency housing. They can help to connect them with local landlords and property managers to access housing opportunities in the private rental market.
Ready to Rent programme
Ready to Rent programme
The Ready to Rent programme is designed to better prepare people for the private rental market. MSD contracts community providers to deliver targeted programmes to people living in emergency housing or on the housing register.
The programme aims to:
- Prepare people for the private rental market
- Build readiness for interviews and meeting property owners
- Build awareness of rights and responsibilities
- Help participants to learn about:
- managing budget, rent and costs
- keeping a house warm and dry, and
- where support is available.
- managing budget, rent and costs
Flexible Funding Assistance
Flexible Funding Assistance
Flexible Funding Assistance is a non-taxable and non-recoverable financial assistance for taiohi with dependent children staying in emergency housing. The payment can help taiohi to meet their children's educational, early childhood and wellbeing needs when additional costs have happened because they are staying in emergency housing.
Learn more