It is estimated there are fewer than 20 rough sleepers in Napier who Ms Erueti said were split into two groups.
"There's those that beg for synthetics and then there's our crew that beg for food, to get warmth," she said.
"Whatever money we have left over, that's for our next lot of food to start again. We also try to save at the same time."
The group said every day was a struggle, during which they were unable to fulfil basic needs.
Prior to speaking with Hawke's Bay Today, they had gone to the Salvation Army to replace their gear - including sleeping bags and clothes - which had been "dumped" while they were away from it.
"We'll be in [these clothes] for the next week or two", Ms Erueti said, or until they could save up for bus fares to get back to the Salvation Army to shower, and wash the clothes.
While the group used to sleep on cardboard in warm spots around the CBD - from alcoves to doorways - they had saved up enough by begging to buy two tents last week.
To eat, they ask restaurants for leftovers or beg for food. The group were constantly sick.
Last week the couple had been "quite lucky", receiving four free tokens for the showers on Marine Parade. They hadn't been used yet.
"We've got to ... ration them."
Otherwise, the group would wash in public fountains "to look a bit more respectable ... just so people don't think of us as they already do".
The group said they did not feel services to assist homeless people helped, and they could not get a government benefit without a postal address.
This meant begging was their only option, Ms Erueti said. If it wasn't, "we wouldn't be out here every day, doing the same thing, in the same clothes".
Mr Keelan said they knew begging was a breach of the bylaw, "but how else do we survive?".
"We've got to survive somehow and it's better than robbing shops, it's better than robbing people," Ms Erueti said.
Although the group say they have not benefited from any of the services in Hawke's Bay, there is a wide range available.
Whatever It Takes community support team leader Whiu Carroll said their work to reduce the number of homeless was "ongoing", but some progress was being made.
As well as liaising with Work and Income, and working to get rough sleepers into housing, WIT runs the Onekawa Light House drop-in centre.
Previously they ran the Outreach Service Pilot which sought to determine the extent of the homelessness problem in Napier, and how it could be addressed.
"It's been a long road and the thing is, is that some have managed to use the outreach as a way of reinventing themselves, addressing their addiction, getting back on their feet and looking for work," he said.
"It's a long time coming and it's no one's fault how it ended up this way, it's happening everywhere. At the end of the day we all need to help each other."
When asked why some homeless people might not engage with the services on offer, Mr Carroll said some might be in places where they don't feel they could - citing addiction issues, or financial difficulties as possible reasons.
The group had said a night shelter would resolve their problems, and get them off the streets as people wanted.
On the possibility of this, Mr Carroll said this would mean rough sleepers might not address the issues facing them, because it would only enable their lifestyle.
"We have to try to help them get out of that ... we have to get them to a safe environment where they can address their issues.
"At the end of the day all we are is the menders, and helpers. The rest of it is up to them."
Hawke's Bay District Health Board mental health and addictions' Allison Stevenson said they offered a wide range of mental health and addiction services, many of which were run in the community by non-government organisations but funded by Hawke's Bay DHB.
Napier City Council is the lead agency of a cross sector group which has been established to reduce homelessness in Napier.
Yesterday a council spokeswoman said they were not able to comment by the time of print.
- Those without a postal address can use the Light House address.
