Safe, stable housing is key to reducing youth offending, University of Otago – Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka-led research has found.
The study looked at the relationship between different types of housing assistance – emergency housing, public housing, and accommodation supplement – and youth justice involvement.
Lead author Chang Yu, Research Fellow in the Department of Public Health, Wellington, says they 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, published in Urban Policy and Research, is the first in Aotearoa New Zealand to examine the connections between housing assistance and youth offending at the population level.
It found that three years after moving into public housing, alleged offences and court charges among young people reduced significantly – by 11.7 per cent and 10.9 per cent more than the general youth population. Rates of alleged offending and court charges also decreased among those receiving an accommodation supplement – 13 per cent and 8.6 per cent more than the general youth population.
Dr Yu says stable housing plays a crucial role in promoting social cohesion and reducing risk factors associated with youth offending.
"The security provided by guaranteed housing enables young people to more consistently attend school and establish strong community bonds, resulting in them being more engaged at school and better supported socially.
"Studies have also shown that having a stable home may lead to parents having more time to spend with their children, resulting in stronger parent–child bonds, and better emotional and physical wellbeing for the child."
He says the research has important implications, "especially as the Government restructures Kāinga Ora and considers the future of public housing provision".
"A 2019 Ministry of Justice report called for a 'fundamental reshaping of New Zealand's justice system' to reduce harm and support community restoration.
"Our findings support this vision, showing that access to stable, secure housing enables young people to stay in school, build social connections, and avoid justice system involvement," he says.
Importantly, the study finds 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."
The researchers see the study as being a starting point for future research in the area and have already started work on analysing how housing assistance impacts perceived quality of life, certain types of youth offending, and education and school attendance.
"This work could, for example, enable policymakers to prioritise housing assistance for individuals with specific offending histories."
Publication:
The Importance of Housing Assistance on Reducing Youth Offending in New Zealand
Chang Yu, Mary Buchanan, Ethan Te Ora, Tiria Pehi, Lori Leigh, Phillipa Howden-Chapman, Jacqueline Paul & Nevil Pierse
Urban Policy and Research
