A fine balance
Housing and employment must go hand in hand
If we are serious about breaking cycles of homelessness, then employment support must be an integral part of the solution. Secure housing alone is not enough—people need pathways to independence, stability, and opportunity.
People shouldn’t have to put their employment goals on hold because they have experienced homelessness or instability with their housing. The reality is that employment can be a foundation for intergenerational change, transforming households from long-term unemployment into working families. Simply put, having families that work sets people up for better long-term outcomes.
That’s why Workwise has embedded employment support into the housing space over the past seven years, working alongside LinkPeople and The People’s Project, who deliver Housing First services. This partnership ensures employment support is provided as soon as it’s needed, coordinated with the person’s housing situation, rather than being treated as an afterthought.
SMART SUPPORT
Having employment support integrated with housing support is a smart, evidence-based approach that delivers real outcomes for people and their whānau. Workwise, LinkPeople, and The People’s Project—alongside their wider Wise Group partners—have seen this play out in practice across Hamilton, Tauranga, and, more recently, South Auckland.
Late last year, we had the opportunity to share this work with Minister Nicola Willis in her capacity as Minister for Social Investment. This year we’re keen advocates for our sector to do more .Raising awareness, strengthening practice, and widening relationships to ensure more people can access the right support at the right time.
Results show that for people who have experienced homelessness, specialised employment support can enable them to further achieve independence and fulfil their potential.
