28.11.08 :: Terrence Aschoff, Manager CHRANZ

The Centre for Housing Research, Aotearoa New Zealand (CHRANZ) has today released research that aims to improve the alignment between the housing sector and the housing needs of vulnerable and at risk young people. This is the first systematic attempt to identify and explore the housing conditions of at risk and vulnerable young people in New Zealand.

Conducted by the Centre for Research, Evaluation and Social Assessment (CRESA) and Public Policy and Research, this project was jointly funded by CHRANZ and the Ministry of Youth Development.
The key findings include:

Most at risk and vulnerable young people receiving services (63.3 percent) are adequately housed. However, a significant group of at risk and vulnerable young people aged between 17 - 24, approximately 12,000, (30.4 percent) are in unsafe or insecure housing.

They may live in dwellings where they are exposed to criminality, sexual or physical abuse, gangs, or drug-making; their housing may be unaffordable, overcrowded or dilapidated; or they may live on the streets.

Most service providers report that inadequate housing compounds the problems of these young people and compromises the efficacy of the services they provide. Service providers report they often devote a large component of their work to sorting out housing problems for their clients, even where they are not professionally involved in housing.

At risk and vulnerable young people require active management, treatment or support from a wide range of education, health, welfare and justice agencies. This diverse group of young people includes those needing post-offending habilitation; young disabled people needing additional support in transition to independence; young people recovering from mental illness and/or addictions; young people leaving state care; young mothers, and young refugees.

International experience confirms that stable housing is critical to successful integration of at risk and vulnerable young people.

The researchers recommend that to ensure that at risk and vulnerable people have access to safe and secure housing, separate eligibility and entitlement for young people to housing assistance and support is required. This needs to be complemented by increased investment in capacity and capability in most areas - for individual young people themselves; for housing and other service providers; as well as for local communities.

A full copy of the research report is available online. A copy of the CHRANZ Research Bulletin is available online.

For further information please contact:

Kay Saville Smith
Research Director
CRESA
kay.saville-smith@cresa.co.nz
Phone: 04 473 3071
Cell: 027 4303 575

or

Terrence Aschoff
CHRANZ
terrence.aschoff@chranz.co.nz
Phone: 04 439 3326