Housing First Ōtautahi
He Kāinga Ora ki Ōtautahi
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Housing First Principles
Housing First is a consumer-driven approach that provides access to permanent housing, in addition to flexible, community-based services for people who have experienced homelessness.
Housing First provides housing without requiring psychiatric treatment or sobriety as determinants of “housing readiness.” Housing First draws from a harm reduction approach and a recovery orientation.The goal of Housing First Ōtautahi is to make homelessness rare, brief, and non-recurring by providing housing and working with participants to promote recovery and wellbeing.
Access to Housing: No Housing Readiness Conditions
Consumer Choice and Self-Determination
Recovery Orientation
Individualised and Person-Driven Supports
Social and Community Integration
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Phone: 0800 43 2424
Email: referrals@housingfirstchch.co.nzOffice Hours
Monday to Thursday 8:30am till 4:00pm
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Housing First Ōtautahi believes that permanent, secure, appropriate, safe housing is a basic human right for all. Housing First recognises that it is easier for people to address issues such as mental health and substance use, once they are housed.
Who we work with
Our Housing First services are for chronically homeless people who have been homeless for 12 months or more OR 4 episodes of homelessness over a 3 year period with mental health and/or addiction issues. Across the city, we are reaching out to people, who fit this criteria, who need help in the communities and areas known for rough sleeping including people living in cars, couch surfing and people in emergency accommodation.
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Homelessness is a complex issue that no single organisation has the ability to solve.
We are six organisations working together using the Housing First approach. Our goal is that homelessness in Ōtautahi will be rare, brief and non-recurring. The strength of our collaboration is its multi-agency approach to providing ongoing and sustained wrap-around support services to help people stay in their homes and never return to homelessness.
The Christchurch Methodist Mission (CMM) is proud to be the lead organisation for Housing First Ōtautahi and believes that everybody has the right to a warm, affordable and secure home. CMM provides a range of transitional and community housing in Christchurch and Blenheim as well as wrap-around support for tenants. For over 80 years, CMM has been making a difference in the lives of people across the Upper South Island. We work across the age spectrum, from providing early childhood education and whānau support through to caring for older people needing to be in a more supportive living environment.
Comcare Trust is a housing provider, both through utilising its own stock and leasing properties from the private housing sector when required. Comcare Trust believes in people. The organisations vision is for people who have mental health and addictions challenges in their lives to live well in the community, through our support, and to offer our expertise to the wider community to assist other disadvantaged groups. Housing First speaks to Comcare's fundamental beliefs, and builds on the investment the organisation has made.
Emerge Aotearoa is a national organisation with a long history in Christchurch, Emerge Aotearoa provides a wide range of housing and social support services including for health, addiction, and disability. Employing 1000+ staff across the country, over 200 are based in Christchurch supporting clients of all backgrounds and age-groups. Emerge Aotearoa is a housing provider, both through utilising its own stock and leasing properties from the private housing sector when required.
The Christchurch City Mission has an extensive range of services including the men's and women's night shelters, addiction services, day programmes, budget services and a major foodbank. It has a long history of working with those who are homeless. The City Mission works in both crisis and preventative ways to improve the quality of people's lives and enable them to be more self sufficient.
Ōtautahi Community Housing Trust (OCHT) is a housing provider, both through utilising its own stock and leasing properties from the private housing sector when required. The core purpose of OCHT is to provide Social Landlord services to those in need of support with housing. As a values-led organisation and the largest Community Housing Provider in Christchurch with over 2300 units, its role in the initiative will be as a major supplier of housing. OCHT specialises in the provision of small units and homes in 104 complexes.
Te Whare Roimata is a grassroot community development organization that has operated in the city East for over thirty years, engaging with and supporting local communities. Te Whare provides cultural support for Maori, community health and employment assistance and a range of other services. Over the past decade, Te Whare Roimata has observed increasing gentrification of the city East, and advocated for the maintenance of low cost housing in the area.
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Myths
Don’t people choose to be homeless?
We have not yet met any homeless people who truly wanted to live on the street. Living on the street is dangerous. Homeless people are often abused and attacked, discriminated against and alienated. They are often sleep-deprived, under-nourished and unwell. It’s cold, dirty and humiliating living on the street. Many are there because they simply cannot see another way of dealing with things. Every one of the homeless people we work with wants a home. Most also want to work.Aren't all beggars homeless?
Worldwide it is recognised that the majority of beggars are not homeless. The public needs to know that when people are begging and saying they're homeless, that's not necessarily accurate.
Homelessness can't be fixed, can it?
There are communities worldwide who are close to ending homelessness. They have done this by adopting the Housing First Model and focusing on ending homelessness rather than managing it. They have done this by collaborating across communities and co-ordination of mostly existing community resources. Worldwide, developing a stock of safe, affordable housing has been key to success.
The fact is, there are different forms of homelessness
Until recently, most of us probably thought of homeless people as those living on the streets. However, many people experiencing homelessness may be invisible to a member of the public, as they couch-surf or move around different accommodations.
Where does emergency housing fit in the Housing First model?
The evidence tells us that access to permanent housing works best, but emergency housing plays an important role in the housing continuum for some people before they are able to enter a Housing First service. It is particularly important when people are in crisis so that we can respond to their needs immediately by keeping them safe and off the street.
We work closely with emergency housing providers so that we can support people through the housing continuum. But it is important that people do not get stuck in emergency housing – its purpose is a short-term response before people can move on to sustainable, permanent housing, with support.
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If you have property to rent in Ōtautahi – particularly a 1-2 bedroom home - Housing First will find you tenants and manage your property for you. It’s that simple.
Benefits at a glance
We find the tenants – guaranteed – no downtime for you and your property.
We guarantee the rent in full and on time – no stress, no chasing for you.
We don’t charge a management fee – your pocket doesn’t take the hit.
We know our tenants really well and support them to be good tenants and good neighbours.
Our Key Workers visit our tenants at least weekly and we inspect properties monthly.
We work closely with the tenants for as long as they need our support.
We’re just a phone call away if you need to talk or ask questions.
And… you can make a difference by helping us to make homelessness in Ōtautahi rare, brief, and non-recurring.
What does Housing First Ōtautahi do?
We’re part of a national network under the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development which supports people who have been homeless long-term to access housing. We use a proven model to address homelessness, providing ongoing wrap-around support services to help people set and achieve their goals.
Who is behind Housing First Ōtautahi?
Homelessness is a complex issue that no single organisation has the ability to solve. A collaborative multi-agency approach means there is a wealth of knowledge, expertise and depth of care to address homelessness. We are: Christchurch Methodist Mission , Comcare Trust, Emerge Aotearoa, Christchurch City Mission, Ōtautahi Community Housing Trust, Te Whare Roimata.
Who does Housing First work with?
Our services are for chronically homeless people who have been homeless for 12 months or more OR 4 episodes of homelessness over a 3 year period with mental health and/or addiction issues. The strength of our multi-agency approach ensures ongoing and sustained wrap-around support services to help people stay in their homes and never return to homelessness.
How are you doing in Ōtautahi?
Within 5 years of operation, we've found homes for over 300 formerly homeless people. That’s an extraordinary achievement which Ōtautahi should be proud of.
How is it working for landlords?
Within our first 5 years, of all the tenancy agreements that came up for renewal, 89 percent of tenants who wanted to renew their leases, had them renewed. That very high success rate tells us that this model works for both our tenants and our landlords.
Where do I start?
Call, text or email us for a chat
We can work out if your property is suitable
We will view your property and if we all agree we will make a commitment to a fixed term lease (minimum 12 months)
Once a lease is agreed and signed, we start paying your rent
Our kaewa (client) will move in
Our keyworkers support our kaewa (client) and visit at least once a week
Our tenancy manager carry’s out a monthly inspection and deals with any tenancy issues.
Total housed
374
Gender
Male 389
Female 155
Gender Diverse 1
Choose not to answer 0
Housing Type
Private 90%
Kainga Ora 8%
Other 2%
