Move-On Orders Will Hurt Youth Homelessness Response

Move-on orders won’t solve youth homelessness in Aotearoa, they will punish it. Manaaki Rangatahi is warning that giving Police more power to shift homeless rangatahi out of sight only deepens the harm, especially when the real crisis is the lack of safe housing and wrap-around support.

Manaaki Rangatahi is disappointed that the Coalition Government has passed the Summary Offences(Move-on Orders) Bill that will further criminalise being homeless in Aotearoa.

Punishing youth homelessness won’t house anyone

The Government’s cut to housing in Aotearoa only puts more pressure on our rangatahi, as well as the frontline workers who work to provide necessary care. Moving people away from their support systems into new and unfamiliar environments will be harmful; especially for our rangatahi.

We know that youth homelessness has not improved over the last three years. When funding for transitional and emergency accommodation is cut, our rangatahi do not get the wrap-around support needed for their wellbeing.

Aotearoa needs support, not move-on orders

Instead of move-on orders, we need a duty-to-assist legislation that requires Government agencies including Oranga Tamariki, police and hospitals, to support those experiencing homelessness to find suitable housing. “Housing is a right, not a reward,” Johanson said. “We are ready to work alongside the Government to build real solutions, but young people cannot wait.”