Reliable housing helps health, income — study
A Hamilton-based programme is not only putting a roof over people’s heads, but positively affecting their health and income, a study has found.
The study looked at how 69 young people between 18 and 25 years old – experiencing homelessness and receiving support from The People’s Project – interacted with government services.
The People’s Project is a provider of Housing First, a government funded programme, focused on housing people and offering wraparound support without requiring them to first meet additional criteria, like sobriety.
Lead researcher Dr Brodie Fraser said the programme was a ‘‘great model’’ and was working well – but work needed to be done on increasing incomes.
The study found two years after people had been housed they had increased incomes, fewer hospital admissions, and fewer emergency department visits, the University of Otago academic said.
Fraser said talking to service providers and people who had been through the programme showed how well it was working – and the research and numbers backed that up.
‘‘We need to keep funding and supporting it but need to work to address the inadequacies of the welfare system.’’
Fraser said it was about making sure more placements were available, which meant more houses and more funding for support. The study found the participant’s income doubled in the two years after being housed, compared to the two years before. Their incomes still remained low, however. They remained below the poverty line with a mean annual income level of $15,900.
‘‘That’s way too low to survive
on,’’ Fraser said. ‘‘Those supported by Housing First were still living in poverty, despite the lift in their incomes after they were housed.
This was likely the result of low social welfare rates, low incomes compared to the high cost of living, and pay inequities, Fraser said.
‘‘While Housing First is providing unparalleled support, it is clear benefit rates need to be lifted.’’
Fraser said a review of the social welfare system found welfare rates were far too low, and benefits increasingly difficult to access.
Young Mā ori women with children were found to face benefit sanctions or were penalised, rather than supported by welfare providers.
‘‘The Government needs to urgently implement their recommendations to ensure our welfare system is providing enough support for young people to prevent homelessness.
‘‘Housing First has been hugely beneficial for these young people, giving them the stability and support they need to thrive.
‘‘We must make sure that fewer young people need these services in the first place, and that when they do, they are also given adequate financial support.’’
The significant reduction in hospitalisations and emergency department admissions was replaced by an increase in specialist outpatient visits. This showed the young people were more able to manage ongoing health conditions, the report concluded.
Young people in Aotearoa experience disproportionately high rates of homelessness – of the 41,644 people experiencing homelessness at the time of the 2018 Census, half were 25 years old or younger.
Of Mā ori experiencing homelessness, 60% were under 25 years old.
Young people who were housed by The People’s Project were more likely to be female and Mā ori, Fraser said.