Get direct support

If you’re looking for help to find housing, whether it’s for yourself or someone you’re working with, these are places where you can find direct support:

  • Work and Income provides help with housing, including when you have nowhere to stay.

  • Citizens Advice Bureau provides free, confidential, independent information and advice to anyone, including about how to find housing, access support services, and get support from Work and Income. You can call 0800 367 222, visit a local CAB, or contact them online.

  • If you’re in Auckland, RainbowYOUTH has a homelessness service for rainbow young people who are at risk of, or who are experiencing, homelessness. This includes people living in unsafe environments, couchsurfing or having problems at home. RainbowYOUTH can help with accessing things like Work and Income benefits, safe and supportive housing, and emergency housing services.

  • Outside of Auckland and for people older than 27, other rainbow community organisations may be able to help connect you with local services, or give you advice or support if you’re being discriminated against.

  • If you’re looking for a rainbow-friendly flat, Rainbow Housing NZ is a Facebook group for queer, trans, takatāpui, and rainbow people in NZ who are looking for houses or housemates, and rainbow-friendly houses offering rooms.

  • If you want to talk to someone about stress or pressure associated with housing, OutLine provides a free nationwide peer support service for rainbow people (free call 0800 OUTLINE (0800 688 5463) any evening between 6pm and 9pm to talk to a trained volunteer, or chat at www.outline.org.nz/chat).

Rainbow support organisations:

RainbowYOUTH provides resources, support, connection, and advocacy for queer, gender diverse, takatāpui, and intersex people in Aotearoa. RainbowYOUTH also has an Auckland-based homelessness service for rainbow young people (up to 27) who are at risk of, or who are experiencing, homelessness.

F'ine provides MVPFAFF+ / Pasifika LGBTQI+, rainbow & queer people and their whānau/fanau in Auckland with pathways and connections to support services.

OutLine provides support to the rainbow community, their friends, whānau, and those questioning through a confidential, volunteer-led support line and counselling with rainbow-identified counsellors. Free call 0800 OUTLINE (0800 688 5463) any evening between 6pm and 9pm to talk to a trained volunteer, or chat at www.outline.org.nz/chat.

Adhikar Aotearoa provides advocacy, education and support for LGBTQIA+ people of colour, particularly South Asians, in Aotearoa.

Village Collective (Rainbow Fale) empowers Pasifika youth to make better-informed decisions about their sexual health and overall wellbeing. The Rainbow Fale works specifically to empower MVPFAFF+ young people.

Gender Minorities Aotearoa supports transgender people of all ages, cultures, and backgrounds, and provide one-to-one peer support and information nationwide.

Rainbow Path is an advocacy and peer support group for the rights of Rainbow refugees and asylum seekers living in Aotearoa

Burnett Foundation Aotearoa provides sexual health advocacy, education and support to communities most affected by HIV

InsideOUT provides resources, education, consulting and support related to rainbow young people, with a particular focus on school inclusion.

Intersex Aotearoa is an intersex-led non-profit organisation that provides affirmation, advocacy and referral for intersex people and their whānau.

Tīwhanawhana is a takatāpui community group (based in Wellington, but with a national scope). The kaupapa of the group is primarily for takatāpui: building community, telling stories and leaving a legacy. One of their initiatives, takatapui.nz, is a resource hub for takatāpui and their whānau.

Auckland-based health services

These places provide a range of rainbow-focused health services and gender-affirming healthcare.

Auckland Sexual Health Service is a clinical health service for transgender people over the age of 18 wanting to medically transition. They also provide free sexual health care for priority populations.

The Centre For Youth Health is service for young people under 21 wanting to medically transition. Social workers and mental health professionals can provide support here as well.

Healthwest - Youth Health Hub is one-stop-shop clinic offering free medical, counselling, mentoring service for young people in West and North Auckland.

New Zealand Prostitutes’ Collective advocates for the rights, safety, health, and well being of all sex workers. They provide support, safer sex products, free sexual health clinics, advice and needle exchange.

CADS Auckland is a service for people affected by drug and alcohol use. They can provide specialist counselling, group support and information to rainbow communities located in Auckland.