When New Zealand’s government recently earmarked an extra $14.5 million to support people sleeping rough, it underscored the scale of the country’s homelessness crisis.

Even if statistics suggest the picture is improving in some regions, homelessness is still at record levels nationally, with New Zealand reporting one of the highest rates in the developed world.

The latest investment is sure to be welcomed by advocates and front-line agencies grappling with this complex issue. But, at least in the country’s largest city, it is unlikely to be solved by more funding for housing providers alone.

In Auckland, our research has found homeless people are confronting gaps between public services, from housing and income to health and justice. When these systems do not work together, unhoused people can be pushed further into crisis rather than helped towards stability.

This is hardly a new issue. Service providers themselves have long called have called for a more coordinated response.

But our insights, soon to be published, add what has often been missing from the public discussion: the perspectives of those using these services and experiencing the disconnection everyday.

They also remind us that homelessness is much more than a housing issue, but a........

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