At Chapter 4, we outline how the right to a decent home, drawing from international human rights law, Te Tiriti o Waitangi, and these key features as outlined in the Guidelines, apply in relation to homelessness and the emergency housing system. Responding to homelessness and unmet housing need: the emergency housing system in Aotearoa New Zealand Government policy and responses to homelessness in Aotearoa New Zealand have evolved over time. These responses now include both front-line initiatives that offer immediate support to those experiencing urgent housing need, and higher-level policy development of strategies and systems that seek to combat homelessness. As homelessness has increased, new policies, programmes, and funding have been introduced alongside existing social assistance.7 A range of programmes and housing support products now exist: • Emergency Housing Special Needs Grant • Transitional housing • Public housing • Accommodation Supplement • Temporary Additional Support (where it applies to accommodation costs). • Housing Support Products Some of these programmes and products are delivered by the government. Others are delivered by community providers with funding support from government. Multiple government agencies are involved in, and responsible for, the delivery of both front-line services and strategic policy development. The Ministry of Social Development (MSD) and the Ministry of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) are the main agencies involved in the design, administration, and delivery of the emergency housing system. 18 Human Rights Commission Over the last 12 months, an increasing number of stories have emerged about problems in the emergency housing system. We have been alarmed by the volume and severity of these issues and worked to hear from those with direct experience of the system. We have also engaged with government agencies – both HUD and MSD – during our Inquiry and have met with a range of Ministers who hold housing portfolios. The emergency housing system in Aotearoa New Zealand is “intended to deliver a range of outcomes, including access to housing for people with urgent housing needs, support services, and a pathway to long-term housing.”8 It currently involves two separate main initiatives: emergency accommodation and transitional housing. 1) Emergency Housing Special Needs Grant (‘housing grant’), which funds non-contracted temporary emergency accommodation, 2) Transitional housing, delivered by accredited and contracted housing support providers. These initiatives together form the bulk of places in the emergency housing system. A third initiative within the emergency housing system involves government-contracted motels providing emergency housing, including contracted motels being used during the COVID-19 response and more recently as a pilot programme in Rotorua.9 In many cases we have heard emergency accommodation and transitional housing referred to interchangeably, regardless of whether the specific housing is emergency accommodation or transitional housing. However, they are separate initiatives delivered by different government agencies and with varying funding models. They are also significantly different in terms of their policy intention and the lines of accountability in each initiative.