A new study shows stable housing is the first step towards improving health outcomes for homeless young people.
Photo: RNZ / Luke McPake
The University of Otago report says a housing-first approach - without requirements such as getting sober - can reduce hospitalisations and visits to the emergency department.
The study also shows an increase in young people's incomes after being housed.
Lead researcher Dr Brodie Fraser told Morning Report national statistics showed about 50 percent of people experiencing homelessness were under the age of 25.
"We have quite a broad definition in Aotearoa, which does include people who are rough sleeping on the streets, but it also includes couch surfing and people who are living in shelters, staying with friends and that kind of thing. So it's really that lack of stability, security and privacy."
Fraser said everybody had the right to a safe, stable and secure house.
"So once we get people housed, then we help them with everything else that they might need support with."
However, even though research showed that 'housing-first' had good outcomes for young people, they were still on low incomes - just under $16,000 annually.
"The key thing that we really need to do is transform our welfare system and make sure that it's providing people with adequate support and incomes.
"And what we saw from the housing-first data was that hospitalisations and emergency department admissions significantly decreased after being supported by housing first, which is really fantastic to know."
"Once we get people housed, then we help them with everything else" - Dr Brodie Fraser