For a future without homelessness
The Mayors Taskforce for Homes is a nationwide network of New Zealand Mayors working together to prevent and reduce homelessness in their local areas through:
The strategic long-term planning and prevention of homelessness.
The day-to-day response required to provide immediate solutions to individual situations.
Core Functions
Strengthen partnerships with central government, iwi, community providers, and other stakeholders.
Advocate collectively for long‑term, sustainable solutions to reduce and prevent homelessness.
Amplify local experience and evidence to inform national policy, and funding settings.
Share effective approaches, data, and innovations to improve outcomes and reduce duplication across councils.
Lead narrative shift through balanced and constructive public conversations that addressees community concerns
MTFH will work together to solve
Target 1 – Reduction in the number of people living without shelter in each local area
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Assertive Outreach to increase engagement with frontline support services
Coordinated Case Management system to create multidisciplinary plans for every person living without shelter
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Immediate Access Housing and Supported Living options for local residents living without shelter
Early identification systems to provide support before (re)entering homelessness
Target 2 – Increase affordable supply and access to stable housing to address overcrowding and uninhabitable homes.
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Information sessions on affordable rentals, healthy homes minor dwellings, & alternate home ownership pathways.
Housing stock improvement and repair programme
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Organise forums to connect local providers, funding partners, and developers
Prioritise infrastructure to unlock housing development on Māori land
Target 3 – Increase targeted housing solutions, education and employment opportunities to reduce youth homelessness.
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A dedicated register, coordinated case management and pathway into housing for youth
Scale effective Youth Housing Models
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Partner with employment programmes and providers to include housing outcomes
Early identification systems to educate, connect, and prepare young people for stable housing
Our communities care about homelessness
Homelessness has become one of the most significant challenges affecting communities throughout New Zealand. An estimated 2.3% of the usually resident population were severely housing deprived up according to the 2023 Census. Numbers may be higher due to a high number of cases that could not be determined. While often associated with rough sleeping, homelessness includes people living in temporary accommodation, overcrowded housing, and uninhabitable dwellings. Most homelessness remains hidden from public view.
Homelessness can be solved
Despite substantial investment across the housing continuum, demand continues to exceed supply, visible homelessness is impacting our communities, and many residents continue to experience long-term housing instability.
By shifting the focus from managing the visible problem to addressing its drivers and prevent homelessness from happening.
It won’t be easy, and it will need new ways of thinking and working. But by bringing the right people together, and by amplifying the great work that’s already taking place, we believe we can make real progress.
Councils can be part of the solution
MTFH provides a coordinated framework to improve how we manage, reduce, and ultimately end homelessness through collective action, strengthened partnerships, and improved system coordination.
Through MTFH we will define and strengthen Local Government contribution in:
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Ensuring that individuals and whānau receive the help they need to stop homelessness from happening in the first instance.
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All residents have access to basic needs, housing and support to sustain housing.
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Providing adequate supply homes so that people are moving through the housing continuum and people experiencing homelessness can move quickly into stable accommodation and access the wider social support they need.
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Data, social infrastructure, relationships, and systems support that enable our vision to address homelessness together.
MTFH will help councils around the country to
Share systems, processes, resources, & knowledge.
Align types of data, collection times, frequency, methodologies.
Prioritise and share research on critical topics across urban and regional settings.
Lead Public Awareness Campaigns through ambassadors, education, and shape perceptions.
Coordinate evaluation across key initiatives to identify effective solutions and scale them across different regions.
Our commitment
Mayors and local authorities will work together take a proactive leadership role in addressing housing stress and homelessness at the local level.
MTFH is committed to a robust long-term partnership with central government across the political spectrum.
MTFH will build active partnerships with existing sector leaders and new partners to work towards the goal of ending homelessness in New Zealand
MTFH believes that long-term strategies are vital for the prevention of homelessness.
MTFH sees local housing growth opportunities and initiatives as essential to the development of vibrant, safe, and sustainable communities.
Mayors use local and national platforms to maximise publicity and develop opportunities to achieve the Taskforce vision.
MTFH will choose continuous improvement through sharing, learning, and doing things better for our place and for our people.
Our work is internationally informed, nationally coordinated, and locally led.
Become a Partner
Central Government Partners
Activation Partners
Social sector, businesses, funders
MTFH Backbone
Te Kāuru Local Government Community of Practise
MTFH Members
MTFH Chair & Committees
Regional Leadership Groups
Local Community Providers and Partners
Ambassadors
Advisory Panel
Ending homelessness requires collective leadership. Whether you are a council, potential funder, service provider, business, researcher, or community member, we'd love to hear from you.
We welcome partnerships with:
Councils and Mayors
Iwi and Māori organisations
Government agencies
Community housing providers
Social service organisations
Philanthropic trusts and foundations
Businesses and employers
Researchers and academic institutions
Lived-Experience and Peer support Groups
Together we can create practical, locally-led solutions that deliver lasting change.
A Home for Everyone
Homelessness is not inevitable. Through local leadership, community action, and strong partnerships, we can create a future where everyone has a safe place to call home.
Join the movement. Partner with us. Help create lasting solutions