Thames residents say they have seen a recent increase in the number of homeless people in town, while multiple agencies are trying to find a solution.
Police, church representatives, social agencies and Thames-Coromandel District Council staff met at the Thames Civic Centre on Monday to work on a joint approach to combat the issue.
Thames Community Board chairman Adrian Catran said it was estimated about 30 people were now sleeping rough in Thames and the surrounding area.
He said he heard from a number of residents they felt uncomfortable with the growing number of rough sleepers, which had doubled from an estimated 15 prior to the Covid-19 pandemic.
A number of homeless people were congregating in the central business hub during the day.