Kāinga Ora: A Case Study of Wellbeing Focused Social Housing Policy Implementation

The relationship between housing and wellbeing is well documented and the social housing system has an established role in providing safe, secure and suitable housing. Social housing currently relies on crisis criteria to determine eligibility. However, the Kāinga Ora Homes and Communities Act (2019) presents possibilities for considering social housing from a strengths‐based perspective, including explicit objectives aimed at ensuring housing contributes to wellbeing. This article presents findings from a case study that aimed to identify how the Kāinga Ora Homes and Communities Act is influencing housing agency policy and practice within the Waikato region. Six participants from three local housing agencies were interviewed, and reflexive thematic analysis undertaken. Findings indicate that wellbeing focused social housing approaches emerge from intentional organisational change processes, community expertise identifying innovation opportunities, critical analysis of eligibility criteria and interagency collaborations creating spaces for achieving common housing goals. Māori provider knowledge and expertise was identified as being critical to housing placement success. Housing agencies described housing placement, management and support approaches that are deeply contextualised relying on relationship building between community and government agencies and those seeking social housing support. Future research could consider how wellbeing objectives in housing policy can be maintained despite shifting housing policy agendas.