New research indicates that stable housing is crucial for reducing youth offending, while emergency motels do not provide the same benefits.
The University of Otago study, titled The Importance of Housing Assistance on Reducing Youth Offending in New Zealand, uses data collected from 2016 to 2022. This period marks the introduction of the Emergency Housing Special Needs Grant, allowing researchers to analyse how different types of housing support influence youth interaction with the justice system.
The study compares outcomes for young people aged 16 to 24 who accessed emergency housing, public housing, or the accommodation supplement. Speaking with Khalia Strong on Pacific Mornings, lead researcher Dr Chang Yu says the findings show how stable housing options like public housing and the accommodation supplement significantly lower youth crime rates. Read more