OPINION
Heart of the City and the City Centre Residents Group say it’s time for recent investment in housing and support services to bring an end to rough sleeping and begging on our city centre streets.
This is a critical time to act and deliver on a significant opportunity for our city. We now have purpose-built facilities and services that we hope can collectively meet the needs of those who require support. People should not have to sleep on our streets or put their hand out for money.
We know that visitors do not expect to see so many people sleeping/begging on our streets when they come here. And we know that people care about the welfare of those in need. If everyone who needs it gets the support they require, this will be a great example for our city to set and something to be proud of. After significant public and private investment that we have both supported, we are hopeful that there is sufficient capacity currently to achieve this aspiration. Not sometime in the distant future but now, before the situation gets worse and it is harder to turn around.
A number of purpose-built facilities have opened in the city centre in recent years, which offer housing and specialised wrap-around services. The James Liston hostel for emergency housing was refurbished and reopened in 2019. Auckland City Mission’s HomeGround opened in 2022, a shining example of housing and holistic healing facilities. And just few weeks ago, the Te Mātāwai facility opened at Grey’s Avenue, which includes housing for rough sleepers and 24/7 on-site support.