Did emergency housing clampdown cause homelessness spike?

A community housing leader says there is a direct relationship between growing homelessness and the government's decision to tighten emergency housing eligibility. About a third of emergency housing applications made to the Ministry of Social Development are being declined every month, according to recent figures. Before the middle of 2024, when stricter rules kicked in, fewer than one in 10 were rejected. In a statement, Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka said emergency housing isn't a long-term solution, and unsuccessful applicants are offered other support. He says changes made in 2024 were accompanied by increased support for people with housing needs, as well as more public and transitional housing. But the chief executive of Community Housing Aotearoa - the umbrella organisation representing the sector - says people only need to look out in the street to see the results. Paul Gilberd spoke to John Campbell.