Record levels of rangatahi homelessness across Aotearoa are placing increasing pressure on support services, with youth advocates warning that current responses are failing some of the country’s most vulnerable young people.
Bianca Johanson, Pou ārahi (Chief Executive) of Manaaki Rangatahi, says a combination of housing shortages, rising living costs, family instability, and ongoing social inequities is driving more young people into homelessness than ever before.
Frontline organisations are reporting growing numbers of rangatahi seeking emergency accommodation, couch surfing, living in overcrowded homes, or finding themselves without safe and stable housing options. For many, homelessness is linked to wider issues including poverty, family violence, mental health challenges, disconnection from education, and limited access to support services.
Johanson says the impacts are being felt across communities throughout the country, with Māori rangatahi disproportionately affected by the housing crisis.
Despite growing demand, concerns remain that funding and policy settings have not kept pace with the scale of the problem. Youth housing providers continue to face resource constraints, while advocates argue that many existing housing programmes are not specifically designed to meet the unique needs of young people.
There are also calls for greater investment in prevention services that address the causes of homelessness before rangatahi reach crisis point.
Manaaki Rangatahi is advocating for culturally grounded approaches that place whakapapa, whānau connections, and community support at the centre of housing solutions. Evidence suggests that programmes designed around Māori values and delivered by trusted community organisations can improve long-term housing stability and wellbeing outcomes for rangatahi Māori.
Supporters say successful interventions require more than simply providing accommodation. They must also include access to education, employment opportunities, healthcare, mentoring, and cultural support that helps young people reconnect with their identity and future aspirations.
As homelessness among young people continues to rise, pressure is mounting on the Government to prioritise immediate action. Advocates are calling for increased investment in youth-specific housing services, stronger prevention programmes, expanded transitional housing options, and long-term strategies that tackle the structural causes of homelessness.
With thousands of rangatahi facing housing insecurity, organisations working on the frontline say urgent and coordinated action is needed to ensure no young person is left without a safe place to call home.
