New regions for Housing First
11 May 2018.
The Housing First programme will expand to support homeless people in Rotorua, Whangarei, Northland, Nelson, Blenheim, Napier and Hastings.
This follows the Government’s 4 May announcement of $42.9 million funding 550 new Housing First places in high-need regions.
Housing First is a programme to house and support chronically homeless people facing multiple and complex issues.
The new Housing First programmes are expected to begin in late 2018 or in 2019.
MSD is talking with a range of interested providers who are capable of delivering the Housing First model and is open to further discussion and submissions from other interested providers.
The numbers of Housing First places in each new region will be determined over the next few months as MSD works with providers and local stakeholders.
The expansion builds upon existing Housing First programmes in Hamilton and Auckland, as well as newer programmes which are mobilising in Christchurch and Tauranga, and progressing in Wellington (including Lower Hutt).
In total, MSD will now be funding more than 1,450 Housing First places in high-need cities and regions.
