public housing
public housing
If a young person can't afford a private rental, they may be able to live in a public house where the Government pays part of the rent. These are houses that are rented out by Kāinga Ora and other Community Housing Providers. Public houses are allocated on needs basis, not a ‘first in, first served’ basis. The length of time someone will be waiting for a house depends on their Priority Rating under the assessment, and the availability of a house that suits their needs in a location they are willing to live.
public housing assessment
A public housing assessment is a series of questions which determines eligibility for public housing against an agreed set of criteria, which is then used to assist the public housing provider in matching to the most appropriate property. It looks at both an applicants need to move, and their ability to afford, access and sustain a private rental. If there are many barriers to them accessing a private rental, this will be reflected in a higher need rating. You can view the full list of questions in the ART document library: ‘Needs assessment form – Social Housing’.
before screening
Young people seeking housing support should first be provided with housing options and advice.
You need to discuss what they have already done to look for accommodation before testing their eligibility. Public housing is only for people with the most need and who are unable to find accommodation in the private market. At the end of the conversation you will be able to determine if they have a serious housing need and that public housing is the best way to meet this need.
complete screening
Good screening is all about the quality of your conversation. Conversation guidelines:
- “Tell me about your current housing situation?"
- “What steps have you taken to find other accommodation?”
- “Is there anything stopping you from finding somewhere to live?”
At the end of your conversation you will be able to decide if the young person meets (or potentially meets) the public housing criteria. To be considered for public housing a young person must:
- have a serious housing need
- be able to demonstrate that they have taken steps to find a place to live themselves, and
- have not been able to find somewhere that will meet the needs of themselves and any dependent children or other household members.
Make sure you have detail notes in ART
- Need: Housing
- Activity: Public Housing
income
Generally, to qualify for public housing, a young person must be earning under the net income limit for their household type. Assessable income covers a person applying for public housing with the intention of being a signatory on the tenancy agreement, and the partner of that person, if they have one and regardless of whether, or not, they will be on the tenancy agreement.
not eligible
If it’s determined that someone is not eligible or unlikely to be eligible you need to explain the reason for this and discuss what their options are.
Note: A young person can request to have an assessment appointment booked even if they are unlikely to be eligible for social housing as screening is not a reviewable decision.
requesting a public housing assessment
When referring someone for a public housing assessment you need to let them know what verification they need to have for their appointment
- ID for all occupants (if not already scanned and saved in ART)
- Children’s birth certificates
- Full name and date of birth for everyone who will be in the household
- Income/asset details
- Other verification confirming their housing situation, e.g. verification of their need to move, medical condition (if appropriate), verification from support agencies confirming their situation
If you determine that public housing is an option, you will contact the Youth Service Support Unit (YSSU) to book an appointment for a social housing assessment.
YSSU will confirm the date and time of the assessment and the Youth Service Provider will relay this information to the young person.
completing the assessment
A social housing assessment for young people follows the normal social housing assessment process and is completed by a Case Manager Housing.
If the young person does not qualify for social housing, the Case Manager Housing completes the assessment. YSSU will be notified and will let the Youth Service Provider know of the outcome. The Youth Service Provider will then advise the young person.
requesting verification
After the assessment, the young person will be provided with the assessment summary. This can either be provided to the young person at the end of their interview or sent by post (if completing a phone assessment, it will be sent in the post to the young person).
finalising the application
The young person will need to sign and return their assessment summary and provide their verification within 20 working days or their application will be closed.
The young person can take their verification to their Youth Service provider or Work and Income Service Centre.
The Youth Service Provider will scan the information into the Activity Reporting Tool (ART) and will send a task to YSSU.
When all the requested verification has been provided, the Case Manager Housing finalises the application by placing the young person onto the public housing register.
YSSU will let the Youth Service Provider know that the young person is on the register and the Youth Service Provider will relay this information to the young person.