HOMEWARD: Barney Jewell says much has been done in a short time to try to solve the issue of homelessness in Rotorua. PHOTO/STEPHEN PARKER 150414SP2
HOMEWARD: Barney Jewell says much has been done in a short time to try to solve the issue of homelessness in Rotorua. PHOTO/STEPHEN PARKER 150414SP2
For more than 10 years, debate has raged about whether Rotorua should get a night shelter. Are we any further ahead with helping our city's homeless? Reporter Mike Watson investigates
The head of a council-funded trust assigned to look after the city's homeless has called for a truce with the organisation's detractors.
Homeless Support Rotorua chairman Barney Jewell said public criticism by individuals was undermining the ability of the group to attract donors and raise money to fight the issue.
The criticism was hurting many people who had volunteered their time to find a solution, Mr Jewell said.
"It makes it very difficult for the trust to persuade lenders and donors to give their money.
A permanent facility had not been backed by organisations attending a forum last month: "No one supported it and I'm not going to fly in the face of opinion."
Night shelters were expensive to run - about $30,000 a year, plus staff salaries.
"We don't have the money to fund any building at this stage."
He said 10 to 30 people were sleeping rough in the city.
"Our difficulty is that we are unable to help them unless they receive a medical referral so we can direct them to service groups who can attend to their drug and alcohol addictions, and mental health issues."
Many of the homeless would rather spend their benefit on alcohol or drugs than buy themselves food, he said.
"There is a difference in what they need and what they want - the trust is more interested in their needs, not their wants."
Mr Jewell said many homeless felt uncomfortably constrained within the four walls of a facility.
"Their first requirement is to wash themselves and their clothes, ahead of food."
Washing facilities were available at St Luke's drop-in centre.
Mr Jewell said critics were wrong to say trust members had not met the homeless.
"We have achieved a lot in the past two-and-a-half months from what was a complicated issue.
"Intensive research into homelessness was being undertaken recently and the trust now has a very good understanding of the issue and how to begin to solve it."
Organisations had been approached to provide emergency and longer-term accommodation and the trust was working to secure more bed nights for the winter.
An office would open in June at Community Ministries House on Haupapa St and a support directory would be published listing on-call service groups.
"This is a lot more use than having a building," he said.
However, vocal critic Jim Adams said the trust was concentrating "too much on the little things and completely neglecting the overall issue which is homelessness".
He called the trust's solutions "window dressing".
"It is blatantly obvious the trust have their priorities wrong," he said.
"Before a start can be made on all the little problems these folk have - such as where to squeeze the toothpaste tube, who drinks too much, and which ones need education - the prime issue is to put a roof over their heads.
"No one is going to concentrate on rehabilitation, dealing with drink and drug problems, or any of the other issues until they have a warm, dry place to sleep.
"The rest of it is just window dressing - an attempt by the trust to make it look as if they are serious."
If the trust cared about the homeless it would open the churches at night, he said.
"Instead of headline-grabbing antics, let them use their heads and get their priorities right."
A former trust member, Jackie Evans, said the homeless should have access to a central drop-in centre which would have coffee and light meals and be staffed by "trained advocates".
"Staff could direct them to agencies who can help with accommodation, food, transport, mental-health assistance, GPs, etc."
WHAT DO YOU THINK? Comment below
Any facility should be a home, where individuals could have their homelessness addressed and be encouraged and supported into independent living, she said.
The forums were valuable but there were glaring omissions, Ms Evans said.
"There is a failure to engage with the homeless themselves - is anyone going out into the community to actually inform the homeless of what is available?"
The Rotorua Daily Post talked to several homeless people through an intermediary but only one person was willing to "go on record".
He said he had never sought help from the trust and would not be interested in any assistance if it was offered.
