The first is criminalising begging. This method is not only ludicrous on a moral level, but extremely counter-productive.
In what society would be throw a person in jail, at around $100,000 per annum, simply for being in a position of vulnerability? And while you ask yourself that, think of the logical outcome. Imagine yourself as a person who, for whatever reason, are sleeping on the streets and relying on the handouts of others.
If you realise you were going to prison for simply existing, what would stop you from escalating your crimes? To turn to robbing the very stores who purposefully keep you at bay simply for aesthetics?
Aversion is another one. It's simple to understand why you shouldn't ignore them. This is a social issue, and I like to think (and in fact it's proven) that New Zealanders are generous people.
Any civilised society protects its most vulnerable, and whatever way you spin it homeless people and beggars are some of our most vulnerable.
Napier City Councillor Tania Wright wrote about this issue recently, and she suggested that we instead give our money to services who provide them necessities. This is a good idea - but her reasoning was because they are all using it to exploit us to purchase booze and drugs while having homes to return to. Mayor Bill Dalton echoes this, and both claim this consensus on the activities of only a few beggars.
I've met several people who are/have been homeless. Most of them young. I know enough to come to the conclusion that it is targeted help they need, not lock-outs and restrictions.
The outreach Report Research on Napier homelessness Even so far as to "reduce services" to force them to move form Napier's centre. If Wright or Dalton had talked to them their justification would crumble. Nobody would sleep a winter outside if they had a home to return to, and the Outreach Research Report commissioned by NCC shows that there is huge demand for housing.
There does need to be more funding for social services, which are under a huge amount of pressure. The Greens have been consistent on this issue. The humane thing to do is provide them with much-needed resources as individuals while simultaneously providing shelter, clothing and help.
As Wright points out, Hastings does this already. On a national level, the Greens have a "housing first" policy which is closely modelled on international norms. We find them a home, provide mental health and/or addictions services if required. It's about being pro-active.
There needs to be a dealing of facts. NCC's own reports on homelessness conclude that much of the issues are around affordability of housing, addiction issues, gangs and family abuse. More police to 'clean' the streets won't solve this. Community action and consistent help to address these problems will.
I sympathise with businesses and individuals who are tired of having to deal with this issue. It's not their fault. The blame lies in cost-cutting policy measures and a lack of political will to invest in genuine solutions. The clamouring from officials for more police is only a superficial answer to a very deep-rooted problem. The fact that 80 per cent are Maori may be an indicator of the institutional issues they face.
The demands for DHB action are reasonable and I applaud them, but the funding for health services are allocated at central government level.
And it is well-documented how guttered our public services are over the nine years of a National government chasing a surplus. The rise of homelessness and the crises in Napier is only one manifestation of a failure to govern with humanity and for the people of Aotearoa.
I also want to take this time to say that the Napier City Council and people like Wright and Dalton are doing what they see best. I appreciate that.
But I genuinely don't believe that further demonisation of beggars and homeless people or more police to only temporarily take them from public view are solutions we should be focusing on. It is communication, cross-sector support and doing our best to aid existing social services that we should focus on. Humane policies. Because we've seen the failure of ones that penalise. We must ultimately realise we are all people who face different struggles.
And while we're doing so, we can elect a government who has promised to fund health services at the level required to deal with this issue permanently.
Damon Rusden is the Green Party candidate for the Napier seat in the upcoming general election.
