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The council plan to stop homeless people sleeping rough on city streets has appalled the speakers of an international mental health conference.
Mental Health Foundation chief executive Judi Clements said the Mental Health Services Conference speakers were "appalled and concerned by the callous disregard being shown for homeless people in the city". Some of the rough sleepers would be experiencing mental illness, she said. "We would suggest it's not a good look for the chairman of a community services committee to attack people living on the streets before attempting to understand why they are there in the first place," she said.
Piers Gooding, an Australian researcher on homelessness issues, said experience in Victoria showed hiding homeless people away without proper facilities made the problem worse.
David Lui, a Pacific health consultant, said he was saddened by city councillor Paul Goldsmith's comments, reported in yesterday's Herald. "I've worked with people who live under bridges and in shop doorways, and I've found them to be some of the most inspiring people. In all of them I found a wonderful sense of pride. The measure of a good society is how we look after those who are most vulnerable, and how we restore some of the mana that they deserve. It would be a sad day for Auckland if we passed legislation that criminalises people because of circumstances beyond their control."
Ms Clements said: "With regards to people experiencing mental illness, we're discussing real solutions, not knee-jerk ones, at our conference this week. ... We invite councillor Goldsmith to come along and hear about them."
