4. Binding human rights obligations in relation to homelessness 39 Four immediate obligations of the right to a decent home, in relation to homelessness 40 Government must also progressively realise the right to a decent home in all other respects 42 5. Assessment of the government’s emergency housing system in relation to its immediate human rights obligations Immediate obligation 1: Provide emergency housing that meets minimum decency standards and other key features of the right to a decent home 43 45 a) Emergency housing must meet minimum decency standards 45 b) Emergency housing must also meet other key features of the right to a decent home 46 Our finding on immediate obligation 1 48 Immediate obligation 2: Do not evict anyone into homelessness Our finding on immediate obligation 2 49 49 Overall finding on these first two immediate human rights obligations 49 Immediate obligation 3: Uphold Te Tiriti o Waitangi alongside other human rights obligations 50 Our comment on this obligation Immediate obligation 4: Establish effective and accessible accountability arrangements in relation to the emergency housing system 51 51 Regulatory frameworks and oversight mechanisms which could provide accountability in the emergency housing system 51 Constructive accountability requires independent review and remedial action 56 Our finding on immediate obligation 4 58 Final comment regarding our findings and government’s ongoing obligation to progressively realise the right to a decent home 59 6. Recommendations 60 Conclusion 63 Glossary 64 Endnotes 67 3