Youth offending drops with safe, stable housing
RNZ / Nate McKinnon
An Otago University study has found a link between safe, stable housing and a reduction in youth offending rates.
The study looked at the relationship between different types of housing assistance, including emergency housing, public housing, and the accommodation supplement.
Lead author Chang Yu said researchers found clear links between housing deprivation and alleged youth offending.
"We found offending decreased significantly among young people living in public housing or receiving the accommodation supplement, compared with the general population.
"The research underscores the importance of stability in housing assistance - more stable forms of assistance are associated with better outcomes beyond shelter, particularly in reducing youth justice involvement.
"Emergency housing - which provides accommodation for seven nights - remains a highly debated model, attracting both support and criticism. This study adds to the debate by showing that emergency housing does not appear to reduce youth offending."
The study found that 3 years after moving into public housing, alleged offences and court charges among young people reduced by 11.7 percent and 10.9 percent more than the general population.
Rates of alleged offending and court charges also decreased by 13 percent among those receiving an accommodation supplement.
Yu said stable and longer-term housing can positively impact whānau and provide social cohesion.
"If you have stable housing, then the kids can consistently attend school and develop community bonds. The parents will have more time to spend with their children." he said.
It found Māori and Pacific youth face systemic disadvantages in both the housing and justice systems.
"Housing deprivation is closely linked to justice sector involvement. This suggests that youth offending cannot be addressed in isolation from housing conditions - addressing structural inequities in housing is essential for meaningful justice reform."
Yu called for the government to move beyond short-term solutions for housing that provided more security for people to survive.
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