This story was published by Radio New Zealand on 18 April 2024
A programme helping homeless people into housing has led to a dramatic improvement in health, justice, income and employment outcomes, new research shows.
The study run by Otago University looked at 387 people who had been part of a Housing First programme, run by The People’s Project in Hamilton – which facilitates access to permanent housing and consistent specialist support.
Over five years, hospitalisations fell by 44 percent, the number of nights spent at mental health units reduced by 63 percent, and there were 43 percent fewer criminal charges.
Meanwhile, incomes grew, as did the number of months people paid tax.
Read the full story at RNZ news: Housing programme leads to ‘impressive’ long-term change in health and wellbeing | RNZ News
