nowhere to stay tonight?
we may be able to help
how your youth coach can help you
Your coach can:
- talk to you about your options
- help you find a place to stay for the next few days, and
- help you find somewhere more permanent to live.
If you don't know how to contact your youth coach, call your youth service provider and ask for your youth coach.
If you’re not enrolled in youth service, we may still be able to help you. You might be able to get a place in a transitional house, or a grant to pay for emergency housing. You can call our general enquiries line 0800 559 009 and say "youth client" when you call.
transitional housing
Your youth coach may try to find you a space in transitional housing, where you can stay for a few months while you find a more permanent home.
There are transitional housing providers all over New Zealand, and they cater for different groups of people.
Not all transitional housing providers accept taiohi. If you’re younger than 18, we’ll do our best to make sure you have somewhere to stay- but if the place you're currently living is safe, the best option may be to find a solution that means you can stay there.
Lots of transitional housing providers have strict rules and breaking them can mean you get evicted straight away. If you’re staying in transitional housing, make sure you know the rules and follow them.
emergency housing
If you have nowhere to stay tonight or in the next seven days, you may be able to apply for emergency housing.
If you’re enrolled youth service, start by calling your youth coach. If not, contact your nearest youth service provider.
Your provider will talk to you to understand your situation and how we can help. They’ll look at what realistic options you might have, like:
- staying with family or friends
- help if you’re behind on your rent
- help if you need rent and bond for a new property
- help with moving and travel costs to shift to another suitable place
- negotiating with landlords, or
- accommodation options you can afford.
If none of these options can work for you, they'll look at emergency accommodation.
We’ll talk to you about your options and, where we can, help you find somewhere to stay.
Not all transitional housing providers accept rangatahi. If you’re younger than 18, we’ll do out best to make sure you have somewhere to stay- but if the place you're currently living is safe, the best option may be to find a solution that means you can stay there.
how much it costs
In most cases we'll cover the cost of your accommodation for the first 7 nights if either:
- it’s your first time in emergency housing, or
- it’s been a while since you’ve needed emergency housing and there's a new reason you need it again.
After 7 nights, you’ll start to pay for some of your accommodation costs. This is called an Emergency Housing Contribution.
- You'll pay about 25% of your income (after tax).
- If you have a partner, they'll also pay about 25% of their income (after tax).
Your income may include payments from us, wages, salary or other income, or Family Tax Credits. We'll let you know exactly how much this will be.
You'll need to pay the full cost of your accommodation if you either:
- have unreasonably contributed to your need for emergency housing,
- are not trying to find another place to live,
- haven’t paid a previous emergency housing contribution, or
- don't use emergency housing in the way we've discussed.
How to pay
If you get a benefit payment (e.g, Youth Payment or Young Parent Payment), your Emergency Housing Contribution will come directly out of your payments.
If you don't get a benefit payment, we'll help you set up automatic payments from your bank account or wages.
How it’s paid for
We may pay the accommodation provider directly, so you don’t have to do anything. If not, we’ll give you a payment card and load the money onto it. You'll pay the accommodation provider with your payment card (much like an Eftpos card).
We can help you look at your longer-term housing options, including public housing, and other support you might be able to get.