She said those living in tents and cars were a mix of locals and people in New Zealand on working holiday visas.
A Christchurch advocate for the homeless said numbers in the city were similar to the last two winters, but it was likely many more were not on their radar.
Christchurch City Mission’s Corinne Haines said she knew of 37 people sleeping rough in the inner city, while the night shelter provided beds for 27 others.
Haines said there would be “many, many” others sleeping in cars, caravans and on couches they did not know about.
During the recent cold snap, she said the mission’s outreach worker made sure people sleeping rough in the CBD were given dry bedding and warm clothing.
One man was sleeping under a sheet in -5C, while his dog - who Haines described as his “friend, family and support” - had a jacket, a beanie hat and booties.
She said the man was given his own set of warm clothes and blankets.
Haines said a handful of people were living in tents on a vacant lot in central Christchurch six months ago, but were moved on.
The Christchurch City Mission was recently given three years of funding by the city council to pay for a second outreach worker. Haines said the mission was about to hire someone, which would mean they could look out for homeless people in suburbs beyond the CBD, seven days a week.
She said she was also “really, really grateful” for people who drop off winter clothes and bedding. Donations can be left at the mission’s Hereford St office or at its Barbados St op-shop.
