Photo: RNZ / Mark Papalii
The government is facing growing calls to deal with a homelessness "crisis" in Wellington, after RNZ revealed residents and businesses are concerned about an increase of rough sleepers and anti-social behaviour in the suburb of Newtown.
Wellington mayoral candidate Andrew Little said the government urgently needed to fund more social housing, provide more Housing First support, and look at the criteria for emergency housing.
"We know there are a lot of people who are rough sleepers, who are missing out on emergency housing, because they don't meet the more stringent criteria at the moment. We need some assistance if we are going to help them get a roof over their head and a warm place to be on these cold nights."
Little - Labour's candidate for the mayoralty - said the Salvation Army in Newtown had told them there was a lack of housing places for people to go to, and that housing proposals were being put forward, but needed assistance to move forward.
"They told me they are really noticing the increase in the numbers of people. They say although there is a lot of good work happening in the centre-city - in terms of people needing assistance and needing housing, some of that is shifting the problem into Newtown and Kilbernie."
He said one of his first priorities if elected as mayor would be work with Housing Ministers Chris Bishop and Tama Potaka to get Wellington support.
"I am calling on the government, as they consider their current policy settings, knowing there is an acute crisis in Wellington - as well as other parts of New Zealand - that they are looking closely at those issues, and in Wellington's case, provide us with some help to get to grips with the crisis we clearly have."
Statistics provided by Wellington's Downtown Community Ministry showed the number of rough sleepers in the capital increased by 24 percent between January and March, and 10 percent between April to June, compared to last year.
Wellington's deputy mayor and Paekawakawa southern ward councillor Laurie Foon told Midday Report the government needed to step up its services in Newtown.
"We have people that really need mental health services, and are needing adequate housing, and this is the problem that we have got."
"What we have been trying to do is fix the central city.
"So there have been more patrols, and more people out, but what that has meant is that Newtown's now feeling more comfortable for some of our street community to be in."
Paekawakawa southern ward councillor Laurie Foon says Newtown is a vibrant suburb, but needs support. Photo: Celeste Fontein
Associate Housing minister Tama Potaka said in a statement ministers has asked for advice from agencies about how current programmes, including Transitional Housing, can be better applied.
"In the short term, we have asked officials for advice on further targeted interventions to provide help and support to those living without shelter, including rough sleepers. We have asked for recommendations around better utilisation of existing programmes and existing services, and they are open to new ideas that will make an enduring difference.
"This work is currently underway and decisions will be made as swiftly as possible," Potaka said.
He said homelessness was a complex problem New Zealand had been "grappling with for decades", including recent reports about Newtown.
Ministry of Social Development regional commissioner for Wellington Gagau Annandale-Stone previously told RNZ that it was still approving most applications for emergency housing in the capital, despite a change in criteria - implemented last year - about people contributing to their own homelessness.
"We continue to approve most applications for emergency housing, and we provide alternative support to most people who are not eligible for emergency housing."
But she said emergency housing may not be the right place for people with significant and complex needs like drug and alcohol addiction, or mental health issues.
"Suppliers have the right to choose whether they accept a guest, or allow them to continue staying there."
Annandale-Stone said the government funded alternative, more comprehensively supported accommodation options such as Housing First and Transitional Housing, which had a different set of criteria.
"We urge anyone sleeping rough, including people in Newtown, to contact us so we can connect them to suitable support options they may be eligible for."
Foon said the city council will be coming up with its own plan for Newtown.
"Council will be bringing a plan to work with our community, on how we deal with the situation in Newtown."
Fellow Paekawakawa ward councillor Nureddin Abdurahman is calling for the council's inner-city safety plan to be extended out to the suburb.
It includes funding community patrols from Māori wardens and urban liaison officers trained in de-escalation, managing the CCTV network, boosting lighting repairs, and bright yellow city safety points - intercoms which people can use if they are feeling unsafe.
Foon said Newtown was a vibrant, celebrated suburb.
"Many of us have chosen to live there, because we love our diverse and multi-cultural community.
"Our beautiful community is celebrated through the diversity of restaurants, from Turkish to curries, through our amazing food stores and Halal butchers, and we are a vibrant community."
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