Mission meal thaws winter for homeless

Kevin Gill (left) and Chris Cain finish with some pudding at the Auckland City Mission's mid-winter Christmas lunch. Photo / Nick Reed

Ham on the bone, party hats and crackers were just some of the treats on offer yesterday at a festive gathering for people who sleep rough in Auckland.

About 120 of the Auckland City Mission's homeless clients attended its mid-winter Christmas lunch, enjoying a brief respite from the cold streets of the CBD.

A street count done in October last year found there were 147 rough sleepers within a 3km radius of the Sky Tower - an increase of 116 over 18 months.

Hospitality company Frenzie Group hosted the event, which involved a three-course, Christmas-themed lunch at the mission's Hobson St drop-in centre.

Mission staff organised games and activities for the afternoon and the centre was decorated with tinsel and Christmas tablecloths.

In June, the Auckland Council approved spending $250,000 a year for the next two years to pay for the start-up costs of new emergency housing, including waiving regulatory costs and subsidising professional fees.

It also earmarked $110,000 a year for the next three years in its 10-year long-term plan to continue support for rough sleepers and other homeless people.

The council aims to end rough sleeping by 2022.