Client leaves emergency housing for more than 28 days due to exceptional circumstances
A client may still qualify for the emergency housing fast-track if:
- there were exceptional circumstances that caused them to leave emergency housing for more than 28 days and
- they have stayed in emergency housing for at least 12 weeks in the 52-week period before they are assessed for the fast-track
Exceptional circumstances are when the client's break from emergency housing:
- was an unforeseen event that could not have been planned for and
- was out of the client's control and
- sets the client apart from others in a similar situation
Exceptional circumstances reasons
A client may be considered to have exceptional circumstances if they had to leave emergency housing for more than 28 days because:
- the client was admitted to hospital or a medical care facility
- had safety and welfare concerns that meant they could not stay in emergency housing, for example due to family violence or other serious crime
Note the circumstances of the client, their partner and dependent children (if any) need to be considered on a case-by-case basis.
12 continuous weeks within the last 52-week period
The client must be in emergency housing for at least 12 weeks in the 52-week period before the date of assessment for the emergency housing fast-track.
Any time spent in emergency housing from more than 52 weeks ago must not be included in the fast-track assessment.
Example 1
Matt, his partner, and their 11-year-old twins were in emergency housing in Nelson for 6 months. They had to leave to take 1 of the twins to Starship hospital.
Matt and the rest of his family stayed at Ronald McDonald house during that time. The child was hospitalised for 41 days.
The family returned to emergency housing 2 weeks ago. Matt meets the exceptional circumstances criteria to have had a break from emergency housing for more than 28 days.
The family stayed in emergency housing for over 12 weeks during the 52-week period (6 months + 2 weeks). Matt is added to the fast-track.
Example 2
Bri and her 3 dependent children were in emergency housing in Auckland for 3 months. Due to family violence, Bri and her children moved out of emergency housing and stayed at Women's Refuge in Hamilton.
They stayed at the Women' Refuge for 1 year and 3 months.
Bri and her children returned to Auckland and have been staying in emergency housing for 3 weeks.
Although Bri had exceptional circumstances for leaving emergency housing, her first stay in emergency housing was over 52 weeks ago and cannot be included in her 12-week count.
This means only her current stay in emergency housing of 3 weeks can be counted towards the 12 weeks.
As Bri does not meet the 12 weeks in emergency housing criteria, she does qualify for the emergency housing fast-track yet.
