AOTEAROA — A new report from Community Housing Aotearoa warns that homelessness in New Zealand has reached its highest level ever, driven by a persistent shortage of affordable housing. The organization, which represents community housing providers, is advocating for a significant shift in national strategy to address the crisis.
Chief executive Paul Gilberd stated that the nation possesses the “programmes and the capacity” to end homelessness, framing the issue as a matter of political choice rather than a lack of resources. To address the undersupply of housing in the lower quartiles by value—a trend he attributes to reforms dating back to the late 1980s and early 1990s—the organization is calling for the construction of 3,000 new social and affordable homes annually over the next decade.
A Call for Structural Reform
While acknowledging the government’s recent efforts toward social housing reform, Gilberd argued that officials are “still tinkering around the edges.” He urged the government to treat housing as core social infrastructure and challenged the Treasury’s apparent reluctance to borrow for housing construction. According to the report, viewing housing as a long-term asset could result in significant taxpayer savings across Corrections, health, and mental health sectors.
The report also criticized the current accommodation supplement, labeling it a “spectacular failure” that has primarily benefited private landlords. Instead, the organization suggests that the government focus on closing gaps between agencies and ensuring that vulnerable individuals do not fall through the cracks when navigating complex systems.
Demographics and Early Intervention
The findings highlight stark disparities in who is affected by housing deprivation:
- Māori: Comprise 28.8% of those experiencing homelessness, despite making up 17.1% of the total population.
- Pacific people: Make up 22.6% of those experiencing homelessness, despite representing approximately 8% of the population.
- Youth: More than half of all people experiencing homelessness are under the age of 24.
- Gender: Women account for just over half of those in severe housing deprivation.
The report emphasizes the need for early intervention, specifically recommending that authorities stop releasing individuals from hospitals, prisons, and psychiatric care into homelessness. Regarding youth, the organization calls for the removal of structural barriers such as tenancy age limits, restrictive succession rules, and exclusionary criteria based on past evictions or criminal history.
What Comes Next
As the government moves through its current budget cycle, the sector is likely to continue pushing for the adoption of more tailored, locally-led housing solutions, including those designed specifically for Māori and Pacific communities. If the government opts to adopt the report’s recommendations, it may signal a shift toward treating housing as a long-term capital investment rather than a short-term expenditure. However, failing to address the structural and policy gaps identified by the report could result in the continued growth of homelessness, as youth homelessness remains a primary pathway into long-term adult housing deprivation.
Despite the “confronting” nature of the data, Gilberd remains resolute: “We’re never going to give up, not until everybody’s housed.”
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