Teen shelter idea backed

The planned emergency accommodation shelter for Invercargill is needed to support an increasing number of teens who have nowhere to sleep when falling on tough times, a social services manager says.

Plans are in place to open an emergency housing shelter in Invercargill by the end of this year, possibly at the site of the old Salvation Army Men’s Hostel in Leven St.

Cathy Strong, social services manager at the Number 10 Southland youth one-stop shop, said more teens in the 15-18 age group who needed emergency accommodation were coming through its doors.

They were often teens who were not at school or in employment, had been booted out of home or had little or no family support.

‘‘They race in here and ask if they can sleep on the couch.

‘‘We try every resource we have in the region [to find them a bed].’’

Strong said a teen who wanted a bed was sent out of town ‘‘because we couldn’t find anywhere in town to support her’’.

‘‘There’s no emergency housing for young people in Invercargill.’’

Strong did not have figures but said the problem was worsening.

‘‘It’s been happening in the last five months, it’s becoming more and more obvious,’’ she said.

Colin Wood, chairman of the Breathing Space Southland Trust, speaking in April, said he expected a homeless shelter to be up and running in the city by the end of this year, but it would more than just a roof over the head of people who had fallen on hard times.

‘‘We will try to offer them three to five days’ accommodation and a relationship with a support worker who has contacts with the agencies tasked with helping them.’’

He could not be contacted yesterday.

The city council was putting $20,000 towards the shelter and a total of $80,000 had been raised to keep the new shelter going for the first year.

An Otago University study last year reported Southland had 84 homeless people and nearly 250 more classed as severely housingdeprived.

The classification includes people without accommodation, people living in non-private accommodation and people living temporarily in severely crowded permanent private dwellings.

Nga Kete Pounamu Matauranga Trust chief executive Tracey Wright-Tawha said she thought there was validity to the argument that emergency housing was needed in Invercargill for some youth.

Nga Kete set up a supported youth accommodation house in Invercargill 15 months ago after being approached by different agencies.

But it was a long-stay accommodation site for teens who paid $150 a week and received support until they got back on their feet.