Limited data on housing outcomes for children and young people in care

Information gathered across agencies indicates that there is limited reportable data on housing outcomes for children and young people involved with care services. This includes data on housing stability following exit from care, and how housing situations are monitored over time.

Current data limitations mean that key questions are difficult to answer, including: 

• What follow-up is undertaken on housing situations after leaving care?
• Whether housing checks occur at later stages (e.g. ages 21 and 25)
• What housing information is collected when children enter care
• How many children are unable to return to caregivers due to housing instability

These data limitations make it difficult to to fully understand the relationship between housing instability and outcomes for tamariki and rangatahi in care.

Strengthening data collection and visibility in this area would support a clearer understanding of housing needs and help inform more effective responses for tamariki, rangatahi, and their whānau.

Data source: Cross-agency data, including information requests across care and housing systems