No house, no child: # of shattered families due to unstable housing is unknown

An OIA request to Oranga Tamariki has exposed that there is a lack of clear reportable data to provide responses to the following requests for information: 

• What follow-up is done on children’s housing after they leave Oranga Tamariki services? 

• If housing checks are done at ages 21 and 25? 

• What housing or homelessness information is collected when a child(ren) enters the service? 

• How many children can’t return to caregivers due to unstable housing? 

This data gap makes it difficult to develop a clear understanding of the impact of insecure housing on the wellbeing of tamariki and rangatahi in care.  

It is vital that the system either improves data collection methods or adopts technology to assist with the collation of data so it can be used to inform housing needs and support required for vulnerable tamariki, rangatahi and their whānau.  

Data source: OIA declines from Oranga Tamariki