Is there a homeless issue in Te Awamutu?

Murray Olson believes there is not a homeless issue in Te Awamutu, although they have some homeless people.

For around four years, the people of the St John Anglican Church, Te Awamutu, have allowed people to sleep under the shelter of the church, around the side and out the back.

‘‘We’ve sort of had continuous people here since then. We don’t provide anything, we simply just provide a space, and sometimes cups of coffee,’’ Olson said.

His comments come after the body of a 40-year old Te Awamutu man, found at a Hamilton recycling plant, was that of Daniel Bindner, who had worked on a Te Awamutu dairy farm for two years before he was made redundant. It was believed Bindner had been living on the streets.

Olson said the numbers of people he sees homeless varies over the months, from one person to sometimes up to 10. He knows the homeless use to sleep under the bridge heading out of town, along the railways near the old station and sometimes across the road at the Information Centre. He believes the people that stay are homeless due to three things: alcohol, drugs or mental health issues. Or a combination of the three.

Waipa District councillor Hazel Barnes said Te Awamutu did not have a homeless problem. She said she was aware of the homeless sleeping at the Anglican Church, but knew numbers were small. ‘‘We knew that we were only talking about a small number of around three that were being looked after at the Anglican church.