Examples of deciding new vs same emergency housing event
When a client applies for an Emergency Housing Grant, it may be because of a new emergency housing event or the same event. It depends on their situation.
Generally, an emergency housing event will be resolved when:
- a client moves out of emergency housing funded by an Emergency Housing Grant and
- moves into medium or long-term accommodation that is expected to lead to or be sustainable housing (e.g. transitional housing, a private rental, or social housing)
Below are some examples to help MSD decide when it would be a new emergency housing event or the same event.
Housing event scenarios
Scenario | Is it a new or same event? | Reason | Is the client required to meet emergency housing responsibilities |
Client gets an Emergency Housing Grant for 4 weeks. Then they are placed in a private rental. 6 months later, the clients landlord sells the property and terminates the clients tenancy agreement. The client cannot find other accommodation and applies for emergency housing assistance again. | New event | The clients previous emergency housing event was resolved when they moved into medium or long-term accommodation that was expected to be sustainable housing (a private rental). They have not contributed to their latest emergency housing need. | No emergency housing responsibilities for first 7 nights |
Client gets an Emergency Housing Grant for 2 weeks. During their third week, they leave the emergency accommodation to attend a tangi in a different town for 8 nights. The next day after the tangi finishes, they apply again for emergency housing assistance. | Same event | The clients emergency housing need was not resolved by them moving to medium or long-term accommodation. | Emergency housing responsibilities apply from night 1 of their emergency housing grant (the first grant applied for after the tangi). |
Client gets an Emergency Housing Grant for 7 nights for themselves and their partner. On day 8, the clients partner applies for a further emergency housing grant (for the partner and the client). | New event (for the partner only) | The partner has not received an Emergency Housing Grant before. Their first application for an Emergency Housing Grant is treated as a new emergency housing event (even though it arises from the same circumstances as their partner's emergency housing event). | No emergency housing responsibilities for first 7 nights |
A client gets emergency housing assistance for several weeks as they were asked to leave their parents' house and have nowhere to go. The client decides they cannot afford the contribution anymore. They leave the emergency accommodation funded to live in their car and on their friend's couch. 6 months later, the client applies for emergency housing assistance again. | Same event | The clients previous emergency housing need (after they left their parents' house) was not resolved by moving into medium or long-term accommodation that was expected to lead to or be sustainable housing. It has also been fewer than 52 weeks since their last emergency housing assistance. This means MSD would consider their latest application for emergency housing assistance to be for the same emergency housing event. | Emergency housing responsibilities apply from night 1 of their emergency housing grant (the first grant applied for after they return to emergency housing). |
Same situation as above but the client applies for emergency housing assistance after 12 months of living in their car and on their friend's couch. | New event | It has been more than 52 weeks since the end of their last Emergency Housing Grant. | No emergency housing responsibilities for first 7 nights. |
Client gets emergency housing assistance for several weeks as a single person. At the end of their 10th emergency housing grant, their relationship status changes to a couple. The clients new partner has been living with relatives in a garage. The relatives can no longer accommodate them, and the partner cannot find alternative housing. The partner has not been in emergency housing before. The partner applies for an emergency housing grant (including the client in the accommodation). | New event (for the partner only) | The partner's emergency housing event is new (although the client does not have a new emergency housing event). | No emergency housing responsibilities for first 7 nights. |
A client gets emergency housing assistance as they had to leave their home because of family violence. After 2 weeks, they return to their home. 5 months later, the client applies again for emergency housing assistance as they have left their home due to family violence. | New event | The clients last emergency housing event (5 months ago) was resolved by them moving back to their home. The client is unable to stay at their home again due to family violence and their new need for emergency housing is a new event. | No emergency housing responsibilities for first 7 nights. |
Client is on a 13 week non-entitlement period for emergency housing. During the 13 weeks the client has been sleeping on a friends couch. At the end of the 13 weeks, the client returns to MSD to apply for an Emergency Housing Grant. | Same event | During the client's 13 week non-entitlement period, their emergency housing event was not resolved by moving into medium or long-term accommodation. | Emergency housing responsibilities apply from night 1 of their emergency housing grant (the first grant applied for after they return to emergency housing). |
