Move-on orders will no longer apply to children, but young people still at risk

Children's Commissioner Jane Searle has welcomed changes to the Summary Offences (Move On Orders) Amendment Bill that exempt children and young people under the age of 18 from the legislation, but says work must continue to ensure young people who are most at risk of housing insecurity or homeless receive the support they need.

“The amendment means children will no longer be subject to move-on orders, but the underlying issues still remain, that there are an increasing number of young people who are homeless.

“We know that care-experienced young people are much more likely than their peers to experience housing instability and homelessness. At a time when many young people are struggling to find affordable housing, those leaving care often do so without the family and support networks that other young people can rely on.

“These are young people who are often leaving care without stable housing, without strong family support networks, and while continuing to deal with the impacts of trauma and other complex challenges,” she says.

A recent housing needs assessment commissioned by Oranga Tamariki found some young people transitioning from care or youth justice were living in garages and cars. The assessment warned the scale of housing insecurity among this group was likely to be undercounted.

“The evidence is clear that young people leaving care face much higher rates of homelessness than the general population. Contributing factors include limited whānau support, the impacts of trauma, difficulty navigating adult housing systems, and the shortage of affordable, suitable accommodation.

“We need to understand the significant issues that these young people are facing when they leave care and how that can lead to homelessness. Ongoing wraparound support for young people transitioning from care is essential and what every young person in care must have.”

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