Emergency housing: where are people living now?

Since 2020, EH declines have soared from 2% to 27% 

Note: Total applications processed is the total number of applications received by MSD in the given time period. Percentage declined is the percentage of these applications that were declined in a given time period. 

The graph highlights that Emergency Housing (EH) applications have steadily trended downwards since the COVID-19 peak impact in 2020.    

We acknowledge the great work that the coalition government has done since August 2024 under their policy to reduce the number of people living in motels, particularly the Priority One group (families with children). However, the increase in decline data points to a growing portion of the population being denied EH housing support when they reach out to MSD for help.    

The graph points to a sharp rise from July 2024 to January 2025, where decline rates grew five-fold from 6% up to 27%. That’s a 377% rate of increase! In the same period, the total number of applications reduced 66%.

This drop in applications can be attributed to either decreased need, a loss of trust in the system, or disenfranchisement with the system.   

With the increased rates of homelessness that providers across the motu are reporting, this decline in applications cannot be attributed to decreased need.   

The data set poses a confronting question we must address as a country: When people are being turned away from EH and/or Special Needs Grants, where are they living, and in what condition are they living in?

Data source: OIA data from Ministry of Social Development, supplied by NZCCSS and Otago University, EHSNG approvals and declines since 2019