Homelessness forecast predicts 26,000 in need
Rates used to upgrade Auckland’s central city may soon be spent on the homeless, as projections show more than 26,000 people could be without a roof over their heads in the region by 2021.
While millions of dollars have been spent helping the region’s homeless, a new report to the Auckland Council’s City Centre Advisory Board shows there is still an unmet need for homelessness support services.
The report shows homelessness could rise to 26,522 people by 2021 – almost the size of Timaru’s township of 27,650 residents – based on average increases between censuses. Census 2013 showed 20,296 people were homeless in Auckland.
Council staff are investigating funding homelessness initiatives through the city centre targeted rate. They are also looking at ‘‘temporary solutions’’, such as mobile showers for homeless people. The city centre advisory board advises the council on how to spend the targeted rate, which is paid by central Auckland residents and businesses to upgrade and develop the city centre. Currently, it does not fund homelessness support services.
However, Auckland Council arts, community and events general manager Graham Bodman said the targeted rate had previously contributed $2 million to the James Liston Hostel upgrade, which was the central city’s only emergency housing provider.
The Liston upgrade had a total budget of $3.9m and would include increasing the hostel’s capacity by five beds.
‘‘This redevelopment is currently under way and is anticipated to be complete by mid2019,’’ Bodman said.
Auckland Council staff were now working to ‘‘identify options for homelessness support services which build on and strengthen those already provided’’. ‘‘Our investigations will involve reviewing the evidence and consulting with key stakeholders to develop options for effective interventions which the Auckland City Centre Advisory Board can consider,’’ Bodman said. Mayor Phil Goff has previously conceded the ball had been dropped on understanding and solving Auckland’s ballooning homelessness problem – officials have little data on the size and nature of what he called a ‘‘chronic homelessness’’ issue.
He made the comments while announcing a $375,000 homelessness census will be carried out in September. Auckland Council is provides financial support for a range of other homelessness initiatives. That includes spending more than $1m on the Housing First Auckland pilot.
By the start of July, 83 per cent of 443 homeless Aucklanders housed through that programme had kept a roof over their head.
Another $475,000 is being given to the Auckland City Mission redevelopment.
The new City Mission would include 80 social housing units with services to improve tenants’ wellbeing and help them stay off the streets.