The Star: October 19, 2017

The Star Latest Christchurch news at www.star.kiwi
Thursday October 19 2017 7
News
Local
News
Now
Proposal to prevent people sleeping rough
A new proposal has been
presented to the Ministry
of Social Development to
help find accommodation
for the estimated 200
homeless people in the
city. Bridget Rutherford
reports
• By Bridget Rutherford
ABOUT 200 people are “sleeping
rough” in Christchurch at any
one time.
That’s what a street count done
by city council staff has found,
as part the development of a proposal
to help alleviate the city’s
homeless problem.
The count found 84 per cent
slept solely on the street, 75 per
cent were Maori men, 57 per cent
were aged between 25 and 50,
while 38 per cent said leaving
prison was the reason they were
sleeping rough.
The city council, community
housing providers, Government
social services agencies and
organisations working with
the homeless, have developed a
Housing First proposal to help
get more people into warm and
safe accommodation.
It aims to address homelessness
by working on the causes
VULNERABLE: A homeless man makes his way along Selwyn
St with his belongings.
PHOTO: MARTIN HUNTER
behind it, and has been presented
to the Ministry of Social Development
to progress.
The idea works on the basis it
is easier for people to address
issues such as mental health
or addiction, once they are
housed.
So, if it gets the go-ahead, it
would prioritise getting people
into homes, before providing
wrap-around services and support
for them to deal with those
issues.
If the accommodation they
are put in is not right for that
particular person, an alternate
would be found.
Housing First initiatives have
already been rolled out in Auckland
and Hamilton. In August,
the Government invested $16.5
million in the 2017 budget to
expand Housing First into areas
of high need. As part of the proposal,
Christchurch Methodist
Mission, Emerge Aotearoa and
Comcare Trust would take the
lead, supported by Christchurch
City Mission, Te Whare Roimata
and Collective for the
Homeless.
Methodist Mission
executive director Jill
Hawkey did not want
to comment on the
proposal as it was still
under negotiation with
the Ministry.
Ministry of Social Development
housing deputy chief executive
Scott Gallacher said the
Ministry was pleased to receive
the Christchurch proposal.
“We are now working through
the detail of that proposal. We
are not able to offer any further
comment at this time, but expect
to be able to do so in the near
future.”
Collective for the Homeless coordinator
Brenda Lowe-Johnson
said the Housing First policy
would work.
“I think it’s the answer for
homeless problems down here in
Fire rages, homes at risk
Christchurch.”
She said the street count figures
were what she expected.
“We have to make some desperate
measures, because things
are really bad out there.”
She had travelled to Auckland
with Ms Hawkey to look at how
its Housing First worked to get
ideas for the proposal.
Central Ward city councillor
Deon Swiggs (left)
said he was confident the
Ministry would support
the initiative.
He said homeless people
were vulnerable, and
needed more assistance.
“What you see down
the street is just the tip of the
iceberg,” he said.
“People that fall through the
cracks – we need to be able to
make sure they are looked after.”
A report is expected to go to
the city council’s social, community
development and housing
committee next month, which
would look at time frames, what
role the city council would play,
and further advice.
City council funding for the
initiative would need to be
considered as part of the 2018
long-term plan process.
ON THE DOMAIN LINCOLN 3 MARCH 2018
nine bands. one day.
THE FEELERS
MENTAL AS ANYTHING
THE MOCKERS
STELLAR
THE NARCS
THE LADY KILLERS
THE WARRATAHS
Have you checked your
underfloor repairs?
This is the sort of ‘repair’
we are finding.
www.selwynsounds.co.nz
Tickets
ON SALE
NOW
We will go under your house and give you
peace of mind for free.
Ph: 03 377 8855 | 127 Ferry Road, Christchurch City
E: reception@earthquakeservices.co.nz | W: www.earthquakeservices.co.nz
NO WIN
NO FEE