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Why we need healthy homes

Living in a cold, damp, crowded home can increase the risk of our tamariki, and others in the household, getting sick with:

  • respiratory issues such as pneumonia and serious chest infections
  • other preventable health conditions, such as rheumatic fever and skin infections.

Creating a warmer and drier home can help prevent these conditions and stop them getting very bad.

How the Healthy Homes Initiative can help

The Healthy Homes Initiative can provide financial support, practical support, or both to make your home healthier. 

So far, over 200,000 whānau members have been supported by providers.

The team will visit your home and speak with you about the needs of your whānau, then work with you on what improvements could be made. These may include:

  • curtains
  • floor coverings
  • heating
  • support with power bills
  • minor repairs
  • insulation and ventilation
  • beds and bedding
  • referrals to other providers if needed.

Who is eligible

You are eligible for free help if you have children living in your home and:

  • you have a Community Services Card, or you have a low income
  • there is a New Zealand citizen or resident living in the home.

And you answer 'yes' to one of the following.

  • Is there an individual with rheumatic fever (receiving bicillin injections) living in your house? 
  • Is someone pregnant or do you have a newborn baby in the house?
  • Is your household overcrowded?
  • Are there children between 0 and 19 years old living in your house who have been in hospital in the past with illnesses such as pneumonia, bronchiolitis, rheumatic fever, meningitis?
  • Is your family receiving a benefit?

If you are not sure if you are eligible, you can scroll down to the list of providers and call the one nearest you. If they cannot help you through the Healthy Homes Initiative, they can let you know about other support and connections they may have available. 

You can also visit 'Keeping your home healthy' for tips about things you can do yourself to make a difference to your home. 

Keeping your home healthy

How to apply

You can apply for the Healthy Homes Initiative yourself and you can also refer other households that need help.

The Healthy Homes Initiative is available to eligible families anywhere in Aotearoa New Zealand, the locations listed below just show where the offices are.

Select the provider nearest to where you live and fill out the online form or call the provider using the phone number listed.

If you are a health provider referring on behalf of a whānau, state this in the referral form with your name and contact number.

Healthy Homes Initiative referral form

Preferred method of communication
Select all that apply

Client information

Client's ethnicity

If child is under 19 fill out guardian information

Eligibility criteria - must meet the following 3 criteria

In addition they must belong to one of the following groups

Group 1: Is the client aged 0 to 5 years old and hospitalised within the last 12 months, or is at risk of hospitalisation due to their housing conditions with one of the following indicator conditions — LRTI, pneumonia, bronchiectasis, bronchiolitis, meningitis, TB, GAS sepsis, meningococcal disease, positive strep GN, rheumatic fever?

Group 2: Does the family have a child aged 0 to 5 years old with at least 2 of the following social risks: finding of neglect or abuse by Oranga Tamariki, caregiver of child have a corrections history, long term benefit recipient, or mother has no formal qualifications.

Group 3: Hapū māmā, or has a baby 0 to 12 months of age. 

Group 4: Is the client receiving monthly Bicillin injections for rheumatic fever, or is the client aged under 19 years of age and are hospitalised within the last 12 months with one of the following indicator conditions: LRTI, pneumonia, bronchiectasis, bronchiolitis, meningitis, TB, GAS sepsis, meningococcal disease, positive strep GN, rheumatic fever? Has there been 3 positive Strep A results from the household in any 3 month period?

Select group
If you selected Group 4

Referrer details

Informed consent

I/we give informed consent for the following:

Referral criteria

  • Located within the greater Waitaha / Canterbury area.
  • Whare with a tamaiti under 19 years of age (residing or regularly visiting).
  • Pregnant māmā.
  • Tamariki with respiratory illnesses.
  • Individuals with rheumatic fever or rheumatic heart disease.
Who is being referred into Tamaiti Healthy Homes?

Provider phone numbers

If you need help with your referral, or you are not sure if you are eligible, you can call the provider closest to you. 

Open all

Awhi

Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm

Call: 0800 100 NHC

Noho Āhuru

Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 4:30pm

Call: 0800 422 4828

20 Degrees

Call: 07 544 1882

Tamaiti Healthy Homes

Call: 0800 669 957

Child Healthy Housing

Call: 06 879 9440

Palmerston North, Manawatū, Tararua, Horowhenua and Ōtaki

Kāinga Whakatipu

Call: 0800 815 799

Whanganui

WISE

Call: 0508 238 837

Te Piki Oranga

Call: 0800 672 642

Manawa Ora

Call: 0800 155 173

Aukaha

Call: 03 477 0071

20 Degrees

Call: 07 544 1882

Turanga Health

Call: 06 869 0457

Ngāti Porou

Call: 06 864 6803

WISE

Call: 0508 238 837

Awhi

Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm

Call: 0800 100 NHC

Kainga Tū Tangata Ora

Call: 0800 494 246

Well Homes

Call: 0800 675 675

Te Tai Poutini

Call: 0800 834 205

Other support

If you are not eligible for the Health Homes Initiative, there is other financial support available.

Support is available