Opinion: Weather not just a talking point for homeless

Hīkoi for the Homeless - rallying for a night shelter. Photo / Stephen Parker

I've been hard-pressed to get out of bed these past few mornings.

The cold weather has been enticing me to lie in a few minutes longer - so long in fact that I have to force myself to get up.

I've been wearing a few extra layers of clothing. I've noticed shoppers around town rugged up with hats, coats and scarves.

The Rotorua Daily Post recently spoke to MetService meteorologist Tui McInnes who said Rotorua weather was unfortunately going to get colder.

He said there had recently been an "impressive front" come through bringing with it a lot of lightning.

For many of us, the cold snap has been just a talking point. Small talk in the office kitchen, or breaking the ice on a phone call before getting to your real point.

Some of us are lucky enough to work in temperature-controlled offices, drive home in our heated cars and watch telly in front of fireplaces, heatpumps or heaters.

But some of our residents who are homeless are not so lucky. The weather is not just a talking point for them. It is serious.

So serious in fact, there are fears that some homeless folk may die over winter due to lack of adequate shelter.

Monday's Hīkoi for the Homeless wanted to drive home that point.

"Don't let us die" read their placards as they marched through the city's streets, rugged up in blankets.

Councillor Merepeka Raukawa-Tait said the hīkoi made her realise the council needed to do more.

Tiny Deane, from Visions of a Helping Hand Charitable Trust, said the homeless were suffering and a solution was simple: A night shelter.

I agree, the council can do something: Fast-track resource consents to allow organisations to set up a shelter - and quickly.

While we need to keep focus on a long-term solution, the need is urgent. Winter is here and the homeless are bearing the brunt of it.

Allow them the ''luxury'' and the dignity of having a warm bed at night.