Emergency housing responsibilities

The emergency housing responsibilities are to support clients while they are staying in emergency housing accommodation to find alternative, and sustainable housing. This includes short-term and long-term housing options.

The client must agree to meet the following emergency housing responsibilities to qualify for emergency housing: 

• pay the emergency housing contribution by the date or dates determined by MSD and
• make reasonable efforts to get other housing and access other sources of housing assistance and
• engage with support services (if MSD has referred the client to a support service)

The emergency housing responsibilities apply from the client’s 8th night in emergency housing.

Agreed activities are steps or actions a client must take to meet their emergency housing responsibilities.

When the client is applying for an Emergency Housing Grant, MSD must:

• set and agree with the client the agreed activities that must be completed before their next Emergency Housing Grant and
• ensure the client understands the activities and what is expected of them and
• provide the client with a written copy of the agreed activities and
• advise the client of the consequences if they do not meet their emergency housing responsibilities

Agreed activities must be reasonable for the client to do by their next appointment date to apply for a further Emergency Housing Grant.

The client must complete the activities on or before the date set by MSD.

Any time between the date set by MSD, and the beginning of their next grant cannot be used as extra time to meet their responsibilities.

Example - Client understands and agrees to meet the activities discussed

After 7 nights in emergency housing, Jake applies for a further Emergency Housing Grant for another 7 nights.

Jake is advised he must meet the emergency housing responsibilities for this grant. Activities are discussed to help Jake meet the responsibilities. Jake understands and agrees to the set activities.

Jake’s Emergency Housing Grant is granted on 17 September. MSD advises Jake he must complete the activities set on or before 23 September (his next appointment date with MSD for a further grant).

There is no maximum number of activities that need to be set for an Emergency Housing Grant.

When a client has access to other accommodation that is adequate in the near future, but they currently have an immediate emergency housing need a minimum of 1 activity must be set. 

This could be an activity to help them prepare for the transition out of emergency housing.

Example - Reasonable activity set and agreed to

After 2 weeks in emergency housing, Wanda finds a flatting arrangement that is adequate to meet her immediate emergency housing need.

The flat is available for Wanda to move into in 2 weeks.

Wanda has no place to stay until she can move into the flat. She applies for a further Emergency Housing Grant for 7 nights.

Activities are discussed to help Wanda meet the emergency housing responsibilities. Wanda tells MSD a good activity for her would be attending a budgeting appointment. 

MSD and Wanda agree this will help prepare her for the costs she will have while flatting.

Wanda’s Emergency Housing Grant is granted on 21 January. MSD advises Wanda she must complete the activities set on or before 28 January (her next appointment date with MSD for a further grant).

To determine if the client has met their emergency housing responsibilities, MSD must consider whether the client:

• completed their activities by the date set by MSD, and if not:
• was there a good and sufficient reason the client was unable to meet their emergency housing responsibilities.

Note MSD must be satisfied the client has met their responsibilities. This means the client may be required to provide supporting evidence.

If a client and their partner are in emergency housing, and the client’s partner behaves in a way that means the client does not meet their responsibilities, only the client will receive a warning.

The client is responsible for anyone staying with them in emergency housing.