The Green Party is urging the Government to commit to stronger action on homelessness after new data showed the problem is either stagnating or worsening across every region.
The call follows the release of the National Homelessness Data Project’s latest report, which found no area where homelessness has improved.
Green Party housing spokesperson Tamatha Paul said rising homelessness was the result of Government decisions to tighten access to emergency housing and reduce public housing construction, pointing to Auckland figures that show homelessness more than doubling between 2024 and September 2025.
She criticised proposals to criminalise homelessness as ineffective and costly, arguing the money would be better spent on housing and health support. Paul said frontline organisations had seen little impact from recent policy changes, describing new Housing First placements as insufficient and increased discretion for Work and Income staff as failing to deliver real change.
The Greens say their approach would focus on expanding emergency housing access, significantly increasing public housing builds, and funding community housing providers to deliver long-term homes with “wraparound support”.
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