Although the grant usually runs for seven days, MSD has discretion to pay grants for up to 14 nights “when there is low availability of emergency housing in the region”, and for up to 21 nights “when a client has had an emergency housing grant for at least 7 nights and meets the additional qualifications, including engaging with intensive support services.”16 The standard seven-day duration of each grant reflects the policy intention that individuals and families should be able to access longer-term accommodation as soon as possible. Everyone receiving an emergency housing grant is required to “make reasonable efforts to find secure accommodation”, which MSD acknowledges will usually involve applying for transitional housing and public housing, as well as looking for private tenancies. The housing crisis, alongside other factors such as COVID-19 and growing wealth inequality, has increased demand for emergency housing, including accommodation funded by the emergency housing grant. Spending on emergency housing grants has increased significantly since it was first introduced. Figures released by Government indicate that spending came to $88.1m in 2018/19, $215.4m in 2019/20, and $320.5m in 2020/21.17 In the quarter ended 30 June 2022, 32,700 Grants were paid out (to 7,586 individual clients). The total emergency housing grant amount came to $97.3 million in the same quarter.18 Government has acknowledged this demand was not envisaged when the grant was first established in 2016, but that the “pressure in New Zealand’s housing market has led to increased demand for all forms of housing assistance.”19 20 Human Rights Commission Since 2020, the Government has also acknowledged clients were remaining in both emergency accommodation and transitional housing services for significantly longer periods: At the time that the Government’s current transitional housing and emergency housing programmes were introduced, it was not envisaged that clients would remain in the services for extended periods of time. However, due to supply pressures in the wider housing market over recent times, lengths of stay in transitional and emergency housing are increasing.20 As of October 2022, the average stay in emergency accommodation was 26 weeks, and there were 111 households that had been in emergency accommodation for more than 24 months.21 Transitional housing Alongside emergency accommodation funded by the emergency housing grant, the transitional housing programme is the other primary frontline response to homelessness. Transitional housing was introduced in 2017, also by the then-National Government, as “a new approach to housing.”22 The programme was designed to be led by government (both MSD and then Housing New Zealand) in contracted agreement with housing providers. Transitional housing was intended to:23 • provide warm, dry, and safe short-term accommodation for people in need, along with tailored social support during their stay • provide a place to stay for an average of 12 weeks or more while families and individuals are helped to find more permanent housing • be managed by contracted providers who are responsible for making sure the houses are warm, dry, and safe.