Call to continue addressing ‘acute’ homelessness problem
FORMER Dunedin mayor Aaron Hawkins is calling on the council to continue its efforts to address the city’s homelessness problem. Mr Hawkins appeared at yesterday’s annual plan hearings on behalf of the Cosy Homes Trust, a notforprofit organisation focused on improving the wellbeing of Otago residents by helping them make their homes warmer and healthier.
He said the city faced some of the most ‘‘acute’’ homelessness problems in the country, particularly during the winter. He commended the council staff’s ‘‘methodical’’ approach to the issue with the Housing Action Plan, and the fact it was ‘‘not accepting homelessness was inevitable’’.
Previous estimates of homelessness across Dunedin were of more than 3200 people, including street sleepers and people in uninhabitable buildings.
There has also been coverage of the extent of homeless people in tents at the Oval.
In recent times, Dunedin Mayor Jules Radich has hinted he has been working towards a ‘‘plan’’ to address the homelessness issue. Mr Hawkins encouraged councillors to approach the trust, as it had the networks within the community.
‘‘The ‘housingfirst model’ is
the most effective in ending longterm homelessness, although it needs increased engagement, and is resourceintensive.
‘‘The premise is that you put a person in a house and have the staff and resources to support them becoming good tenants. ‘‘There needs to be a citywide approach in pushing for this.’’ He said other organisations which could be approached were Orange Sky Aotearoa, another notforprofit organisation working across the country to provide people experiencing homelessness and hardship with access to free laundry services, warm showers and genuine conversation.
‘‘It would be of value in supporting our homeless whanau. It may not require council funding; it may just need space to operate here, but we recommend the council investigate its potential.’’
Mr Hawkins was aware of the organisation working alongside agencies in Auckland and Wellington, and said the only ‘‘barriers’’ to it working within Dunedin would be whether it had the resources to extend its work here.
‘‘Making a formal approach would be a useful first step for council.’’
The establishment of ‘‘wet houses’’ to assist with homeless people who had substance abuse issues was also something that could be investigated, he said.
Mr Hawkins also spoke about the need to assist with making homes more energy efficient. The council has previously provided loans for energyefficiency retrofitting, such as heating devices and insulation, repaid by the householder against their rates.
Mr Hawkins said the government’s recently announced changes to the Credit Contract and Consumer Financing Act meant voluntary targeted rates schemes would once again be a viable option for communities. He urged the council to reintroduce the loans scheme in the 202425 financial year.