Moves to extend beggar scheme
Palmerston North’s social work approach to getting beggars off the streets could be extended.
Social agency Mash Trust is six weeks into a three-month trial to explore whether working with people begging to ensure their needs are met can change their habits.
But the contract is due to run out over summer, before the council returns to business in the New Year.
A report will go to to the full council on Monday on how the arrangement could be extended to ensure any gains that are being made so far are not lost.
Mash community services manager Christina Hemmingsen said the project had identified 25 people begging, including one in Milson.
Their approach was to understand each person’s needs, and ensure they had access to essential items and referrals to agencies that could help.
Hemmingsen said the Luck centre was extending access to ensure people had somewhere to go for food, showers, or to talk to others.
The community liaison team was also working to identify what those people needed to help them over the Christmas and New Year period.
The council’s community development committee has deferred asking for a proposal on a public education programme to discourage people giving to beggars until after a trial analysis.