Who can get emergency housing

Criteria you need to meet

You may qualify for emergency housing if you:

• have nowhere to stay tonight or in the next 7 nights, and
• agree to meet your responsibilities from the 8th night (if you're in emergency housing for more than 7 nights).

You must also meet the residency criteria. This means you need to be either:

• getting a main benefit, NZ Super or Veteran's Pension, or
• ordinarily resident in New Zealand and either:
  • a New Zealand citizen
  • have a residence class visa under the Immigration Act 2009
  • recognised as a refugee or protected person under the Immigration Act 2009, or
  • getting a Special Needs Grant because you came to New Zealand on a temporary visa to be with your New Zealand partner and your relationship ended due to domestic violence.

It also depends on your income and any assets you have.

We may also look at whether you've caused or contributed to your need for emergency housing. For example:

• you moved out of your accommodation without a good reason and didn't have another place to move into, or
• you had to move out of your accommodation because you:
  • damaged the property, or
  • didn't follow the supplier's rules of stay.

If you're getting a main benefit

We'll look at the status of your benefit. You can't get emergency housing if it's been suspended, reduced for a certain reason, or cancelled for 13 weeks.

Income

Cash assets

Generally you need to have cash assets under these limits. However, if they're over these limits, you may still qualify. Contact us to talk about your situation.

If you're	Your assets are worth less than:
Single with no children	$1,338.90
Couple, with or without children, or sole parent	$2,230.96