Natasha Ruru Tynan (right) and her advocate Dawn Bedingfield at the Marewa home she was recently evicted from. Photo / Paul Taylor
Natasha Ruru Tynan (right) and her advocate Dawn Bedingfield at the Marewa home she was recently evicted from. Photo / Paul Taylor
Calls for a night shelter in Napier have intensified after a vulnerable woman was left homeless after being evicted from her government accommodation.
Natasha Ruru Tynan, who has multiple sclerosis – a disabling disease of the brain and spinal cord – left her two-bedroom apartment after her 80-year-old roommate wasmoved into a pensioner flat.
Tynan, 43, was no longer eligible to stay at the Kainga Ora property as a single occupant as it was a two-bedroom property, according to the Ministry of Social Development.
She slept rough on Tuesday night before a friend took her in after appropriate temporary accommodation could not be sourced near her Marewa home. She did not want to stay in a motel for health reasons.
Tynan's advocate and co-ordinator of the Napier Housing Coalition Dawn Bedingfield said a night shelter in the city could stop vulnerable people being forced to sleep on the street.
"In the depths of winter, these poor people have to sleep in the cold or on a beach," she said. "Some are elderly, a lot have major physical or mental problems, so it'd be a comfort for them.
"A night shelter could act as somewhere for the permanently homeless or those who fall out of temporary homes to go at night and be safe."
Tynan, a former addict with severe mental health issues, had lived at the Massey Cres for a year before she was asked to leave.
Ministry of Social Development regional commissioner eastern Annie Aranui said Tynan was offered a placement in transitional housing at Cedar Court in Napier.
"However, she declined the offer as she did not want to be placed in a motel," she said.
A note from The Doctors Napier GP Maik Huneke, shared with Hawke's Bay Today, states that Tynan is in a "fragile condition" and rehousing into a motel "would have a significant impact on her health condition".
"Therefore, it would be ideal for her to stay in her current housing situation or a similar permanent solution," Huneke said.
Bedingfield said ideally Tynan would remain at Massey Cres, as it has a ramp.
Bedingfield said Tynan may turn back to drugs if forced to remain homeless.
"With multiple sclerosis she can't be sleeping on a beach again. She doesn't want to get back on drugs and she hasn't got the ability to cope mentally with motels," she said.
"I may be able to sweet talk a motel, but it's likely to be around the port and away from her support people."
Aranui said the MSD team was due to meet with Tynan and Bedingfield to discuss the options available.
"Once the assessment is completed, availability for a suitable house will be managed by Kainga Ora. We will continue to work with Natasha to provide all available support and assistance."
Bedingfield said more people than Tynan are in this position.
"Without a night shelter, women are sleeping rough. And I can't believe they've got people more desperate or in need than Natasha," she said.
"You've got people that follow the rulebook with no flexibility and never case by case. Their computer system knows nothing about Natasha.
"They've thrown her onto the street and slammed the door on her and she will have to go onto the streets again."
Mayor of Napier Kirsten Wise. Photo / Paul Taylor
Napier mayor Kirsten Wise said rough sleeping in the city increases over summer because of better weather and rough sleepers coming from out of town.
"The numbers of people rough sleeping in Napier is relatively low but is concentrated, generally to the CBD," she said.
"At this time, a night shelter is not being considered."
Wise said research was done when the visibility of rough sleeping increased in Napier in 2015/16, but the response was to start an Outreach Service that connects rough sleepers with existing services.
"At that time a local trust attempted to establish a shelter but this did not eventuate. Night shelters are more easily established than sustained," she added.
"Over Covid lockdown, we saw almost 100 per cent of rough sleepers being accommodated in motels. Some have continued in this accommodation, others have moved into secure housing and others returned to the street."
