Transition to Alternative Housing Grant

Who can get it

You may be able to get this payment if you:

• are living in public (social) housing
• have a signed tenancy agreement with the public housing provider
• have agreed with us and the public housing provider that you will move out of public housing, even though you meet the criteria to stay there
• have not been paid a Transition to Alternative Housing Grant before, and
• are moving into a house:
  • where you've signed a tenancy under the Residential Tenancies Act (RTA), i.e. you have a formal tenancy agreement
  • within 6 months of applying for this payment, and
  • where you can afford to stay long-term.

If you're living with others in public housing, everyone must move out of the house for you to get this payment.

You also must be either:

• getting a benefit from us (e.g. Jobseeker Support), or
• ordinarily resident in New Zealand and either:
  • a New Zealand citizen
  • have a residence class visa under the Immigration Act 2009
  • recognised as a refugee or protected person under the Immigration Act 2009
  • getting the Christchurch Mosque Attacks Assistance, or
  • getting a Special Needs Grant because you came to New Zealand on a temporary visa to be with your New Zealand partner and your relationship ended due to domestic violence.

What you can get

You can get $3,000 if you’re the only person applying for this payment who's signed the public housing tenancy agreement.

If there’s someone else who's applying for this and signed the public housing tenancy agreement, the payment will be split between you.

You can only get this payment once in your lifetime and you don't need to pay it back.

How to apply

Call us on 0800 559 009

If you get NZ Super or Veteran's Pension, call Senior Services on 0800 552 002

We'll book you an appointment to come in and talk with us about your situation. If we think you may qualify, we'll talk with you about next steps.