Youth homelessness — young people aged 12–24 without stable housing — affects thousands of New Zealanders. Young people become homeless due to family breakdown, domestic violence, mental health, and economic vulnerability. This guide covers the key funding sources for youth homelessness services.
MSD funds youth homelessness:
- Emergency Housing Special Needs Grant: Emergency housing assistance
- Housing First: Intensive support for chronically homeless young people
- Transitional housing: Supported transitional housing for youth
- Social housing: State housing access for young people
- Youth Service: Support for 15–19 year olds including housing
Kāinga Ora provides social housing:
- State housing for young people in need
- Transitional housing
- Support for young people on waiting lists
Gaming trusts fund youth homelessness services:
- Four Winds Foundation: Community housing support
- Grassroots Trust: Youth homelessness services
- Pub Charity: Community social services
- Lion Foundation: Community social services
Gaming trust youth homelessness applications:
- Youth emergency accommodation
- Transitional housing support costs
- Housing navigation and tenancy support
- Life skills for independent living
Private foundations funding youth homelessness:
- Todd Foundation: Youth and community development
- J.R. McKenzie Trust: Child and youth wellbeing
- Tindall Foundation: Social development including housing
Salvation Army:
- Youth emergency accommodation
- Transitional housing
- Social services including housing support
Youth housing organisations:
- The Nest (Queenstown): Youth housing
- Youthtown: Youth housing and services
- Youth Services: Organisation-specific youth housing
Māori youth housing:
- Te Puni Kōkiri: Māori youth housing
- Iwi housing providers: Tribal housing for rangatahi
Overrepresentation in youth homelessness:
- InsideOUT: LGBTQ+ youth support including housing
- Rainbow community services: Housing for LGBTQ+ youth kicked out of home
- Community services: Rainbow-affirming housing providers
Mental health connection:
- Youth mental health: Mental health support in housing contexts
- Dual diagnosis: Mental health and substance use in youth homelessness
- ACC: Traumatic brain injury and homelessness connection
Strong applications demonstrate:
- Young people housed: Number in emergency, transitional, and stable housing
- Housing outcomes: Length of stable tenancy after support
- Equity: Māori, Pacific, and LGBTQ+ youth overrepresented in homelessness
- Wraparound: Housing plus mental health, employment, and education support
- Prevention: Early intervention before homelessness occurs
- Family reconnection: Where safe, reconnecting young people with whānau
- Sustainability: Young people sustaining independent tenancies
- Cost-effectiveness: Cost of homelessness support vs. housing stability
Tahua's grants management platform helps youth homelessness organisations manage grant applications across MSD, gaming trusts, Kāinga Ora, and community funders, tracking housing stability, wraparound support, and youth wellbeing outcomes.