Auckland Council will play a co-ordinating role, working with central government, NGOs, and the private sector to eliminate homelessness in the city.
"When I walk up from Britomart, I walk past lots of people sleeping on the street," says Mayor Phil Goff.
"It's not simply the perception that's bad for the city -- it's the reality. Who in their right mind would be sleeping on the pavement if they had some alternative," he says.
Goff's policy to help the homeless will be based on the principle of "Housing First" -- where priority is given to obtaining stable housing. Once accommodation is provided, wraparound services can be provided to address the issues that lead to homelessness.
"I would argue that by the time you take into account hospitalisation of people of the street, law and order, and imprisonment issues, there is a strong economic case as well as a social case," he says.
