Specified child or young person in the custody of Oranga Tamariki or approved permanent care
Some families in specific circumstances with a child or young person in their care may be able to fast-track into social housing.
Fast-track applies when a household applying for social housing includes a child or young person in custody of Oranga Tamariki or is in an approved permanent care arrangement intended to be for 12 months or longer.
An application for social housing can be fast-tracked when clients apply for social housing and meet the following criteria:
- the household must qualify for social housing
- the household must include a specified child or young person who is in the custody of Oranga Tamariki or in an approved permanent care arrangement
- the child's placement in the household is intended to be for 12 months or longer, or permanent
- placing the household into social housing is needed to help meet the needs of the child, including stability of care and
- the specified child or young person is not in the process of leaving care or custody in the next 12 months
For more information see:
Leaving care or custody in the next 12 months
Families with specified children or young people may not be fast-tracked for social housing if they will be leaving care or custody in the next 12 months.
The child or young person is considered to have left or be leaving when the custody order (issued by the Family Court) is discharged, lapses, or a care agreement ends or expires.
Clients already registered for social housing
There is a different process for households already on the social housing register.
For more information see:
Current housing preventing a child coming into care
An application can also be fast-tracked if the:
- household qualifies for social housing and
- household's current accommodation is preventing a specified child or young person in the custody of Oranga Tamariki from coming into their care andÂ
- care arrangement is intended to be for 12 months or longer, or is permanent and
- specified child or young person are not in the process of leaving care or custody in the next 12 months
The client will generally provide a written statement to verify they meet the criteria for fast-track.
Child or young person placed with a parent
Fast-track may still apply when a specified child or young person is, or will be, placed with one or both parent, as long as the child or young person is still in the custody of Oranga Tamariki, or still in approved permanent care.
