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Accommodation Security Cover Grant : Contents

Impact on the client and their family

When considering whether to make an Accommodation Security Cover Grant, MSD must consider the likely impacts on the client, their partner (if any), and their dependent children (if any) if the client's accommodation need is not met.

MSD should consider what other accommodation options are available to the client if they do not get the grant.

Factors that MSD may consider include, but are not limited to are:

  • the client is likely to require emergency housing if assistance is not granted
  • the client will need to stay in accommodation that is close to a perpetrator of violence if assistance is not granted
  • the client will need to stay in accommodation that is near drug use or gang related activity if assistance is not granted
  • the client can afford any of their other options
  • there are enough bedrooms in the other accommodation
  • they will be staying in suitable accommodation if they do not get the grant
  • they will be a reasonable distance from work, school or essential services if assistance is not granted
  • their other options meet the accessibility needs the client, their partner (if any), or their children (if any) may have

MSD must assess each client's circumstances on a case-by-case basis and determine how significant any impacts on the client's family will be.

Example

Sam lives with their partner and two children. Their current tenancy is ending due to the landlord selling the property. Sam has applied for an Accommodation Security Cover Grant to move into a cabin on a friend's property near her old tenancy. The cabin is suitably sized and appropriate for her family.

Sam and their family have an option to stay with their brother that would have a lower weekly accommodation cost for Sam, however it would take over an hour and a half for Sam to get to work and to their children's school during peak traffic times.

MSD and Sam agree that the impacts on her family to travel and pay for travel costs will be significant, and MSD grants Housing Support Product assistance for the cabin.

Care and protection concerns

If MSD believes any child has been, or is likely to be harmed (physically, emotionally or sexually), ill-treated, abused, neglected, deprived or MSD has concerns about the wellbeing of the child, the case must be referred to Oranga Tamariki.

For more information see:

Legislation

  • Principles to be applied in the exercise of discretion clause 10(1)(a)(v) Housing Support Programme
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Oranga Tamariki-Ministry for Children is known as "Oranga Tamariki". It came into existence on 1 April 2017, and replaced what was known as "Child, Youth and Family" or CYF.

Its original name, from 1 April 2017 until 18 January 2018, was the "Ministry for Vulnerable Children, Oranga Tamariki".