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The Auckland City Council's Community Services Committee announced today that it will look at addressing and reducing the level of homelessness in Auckland.
Councillor Paul Goldsmith says the council recognises that rough sleeping is an increasing issue in the city, especially in the central business district.
"I am gravely concerned with the prevalence of rough sleepers in Auckland city. It is frustrating that the council can regulate certain aspects of people's lives, yet seem to do nothing to clear Queen Street and our other city streets of mattresses and sleepers," he said.
The committee has asked officers to look seriously at a solution to address the problem. This includes reviewing the council's existing Homelessness Plan to include greater intervention to address and reduce the level of homelessness.
"The number of people sleeping rough on the streets has increased in recent years. Recent surveys suggest there are up to 100 people living rough on Auckland city's streets.
"We need to find a workable way to get people off the streets to improve the perception of safety within Auckland's public spaces," says Mr Goldsmith.
- NZ HERALD STAFF
