The Government’s Homelessness Insights report has confirmed that homelessness is on the rise.

“The Government has confirmed what we have all seen on our streets, which is that homelessness is on the rise under its watch,” says Green Party spokesperson for Housing Tamatha Paul.

“Housing is a human right and something we can afford to provide to everyone, no matter how tough times get.

“The changes to emergency housing eligibility have created misery in our communities. This is how the Government has so rapidly reduced numbers in such a short time, by discarding human beings to fend for themselves on the streets.”

“This report makes it clear that the Government has no idea where 14 per cent of the people who leave emergency housing end up. We know that these people are extremely likely to end up on the street and without support.

“The Government was explicitly warned by officials that their changes to emergency housing risked increasing homelessness and rough sleeping, and they knowingly chose to take that risk.

“From the latest government data and the work my electorate office is doing to support people in serious housing desperation, we know that the big drivers on the ground are the denial of access to emergency housing, and a lack of public housing supply.

“A Green Government will reverse National’s restrictions to emergency housing so those who need help get it. We will build 35,000 new public homes in five years to clear the public housing waitlist and ensure everyone can live in a warm, healthy home because we don’t believe anybody should be left on the street,” says Tamatha Paul.

Notes:

• The June 2025 Homeless Insights report states that “the data and observations we have collated from around the country indicate this has increased” and that “it appears to be greater than our 3 per cent population growth”.
• The report states that of the households exiting emergency housing “some of the remaining 14% may be living without shelter, however, this cannot be confirmed”.
• The report highlights that Auckland, Tauranga, Whangārei, Taranaki, Porirua, Wellington, and Christchurch are all recording increases in homelessness and rough sleeping.
• Key themes that the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development are hearing from Councils include that the number of people living without shelter over summer were higher than the previous summer, and they are hearing from the homelessness sector that there are increases in people sleeping rough, living in cars or garages, or staying in overcrowded or uninhabitable housing.
• The report also states that Te Whatu Ora is finding increased homelessness through its quarterly accommodation check-ins with clients, including increases in homelessness amongst people receiving mental health and addiction services.

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