Te Tuinga is buying a property for a one-stop shop for the homeless in the Tauranga CBD. Photo / George Novak
Te Tuinga is buying a property for a one-stop shop for the homeless in the Tauranga CBD. Photo / George Novak
A wellbeing hub for the homeless - including food, showers, and social services - is set to be running in Tauranga by Christmas.
It comes as those on the frontline of the homelessness crisis highlight the struggle to get by, with one homeless man saying life is spent "trying tosurvive" with no drop-in service.
A Tauranga City Council media spokeswoman said about 94 people, mostly singles, were living in their cars and 25 were living rough in places such as tents or under bridges.
She said they could only estimate the number because homeless people did not tell the council when their situation changed.
There were also 855 people on the housing register in Tauranga and the Western Bay of Plenty as of June, the latest figures from the Ministry of Social Development.
Te Tuinga is buying a property for a one-stop shop for the homeless in the Tauranga CBD. Photo / George Novak
Wilson said the building was fit-for-purpose and the purchase of the property will go through as soon as this weekend.
It will be called Te Tuinga Tauranga Moana Centre, a satellite to the site in Greerton which is called Te Tuinga Taratoa Centre.
"It marries with breathing life, a great big hongi, back into the CBD of Tauranga."
Wilson hoped to continue the work with the Tauranga Community Centre and hoped to use a boxing gym for things like showers.
Wilson said the need was there and the practice would work from a Māori wellbeing view.
Some of the services included an employment service, youth justice, social, addiction and housing services as well as teaching things like art and carving.
Wilson said the Happy Puku would operate there to provide food to anyone in need which would be funded through donations when others bought a meal.
It would be a base for anyone who needed the support, but would not be a place for people to sleep.
"We aren't there to spoon feed them. We have a pretty strict criteria for our kaupapa," he said.
Te Tuinga director Tommy Wilson (here with chief inspiration officer Stacey Mareroa-Roberts) says it's hoped the one-stop shop for the homeless will be open by Christmas. Photo / George Novak
"We won't turn anyone away, but we won't give ongoing help if we believe it's not in both of our best interests, otherwise you're just enabling them to continue with their addiction."
Joshua, who wanted to be known only by his first name, said homelessness was "living day-to-day trying to survive".
He was sent to prison in 2009 and released after two years, then stayed in residential care for a few years.
He had also lived on the streets for a while as a youth.
He has stayed at the men's night shelter on and off - two months at the shelter and then a few weeks on the street on rotation.
Joshua received just under $300 on the benefit, which he said helped, but most of it went to paying off debts, and he borrowed about $200 more a week to keep going.
Joshua says there is no drop-in centre for the services he needs to access. Photo / George Novak
This was spent on survival - including food and clothing.
During the day, he'd hide his belongings in a bush when not in a motel.
Showers were either at the Arataki Community Centre or Memorial Park and he went to the community meals held on Tuesdays and Saturdays in Tauranga CBD.
Completing tasks each day involved a lot of moving around.
"There's no drop-in centre."
Homeless advocate Heidi Tidmarsh would drive some of the "streeties" to where they needed to be; appointments, meals, Covid vaccinations, the Warehouse for clothes.
"If they jump on a bus, that's too much money," she said.
She said the Bay of Plenty Regional Council had provided free bus cards to anyone who could not legally drive, which was beneficial to some.
She said while there were services around, a one-stop shop would help.
Under the Stars operations manager Laura Wood said there was "absolutely" a need for a hub with many struggling to get what they need.
Under the Stars operations manager Laura Wood. Photo / File
She said some took the bus but many didn't have a bus card or money.
While some of the homeless had vehicles, many didn't have an up-to-date warrant of fitness or money for gas.
Wood said there was work going on in the background but this would take a while to get off the ground.
"The biggest issue is finding a venue that makes the majority happy."
The ideal venue would be close to town, a place people felt safe coming to, that the public would not oppose, and was affordable for the charities.
She said a range of food-security charities were looking for a place with a commercial kitchen and space for a dining room.
Wood said they were always open to collaboration with other agencies to reach those in need.
