Concerns over temporary shelters in Tauranga

File image/SunLive.

Temporary shelters are popping up around Tauranga, prompting some members of the public to voice their concerns.

SunLive has been contacted by concerned people about homeless people living in tents and other temporary shelters.

Tauranga City Council regulatory and compliance general manager Barbara Dempsey says the council cannot unjustifiably remove or move vulnerable members of our community by punitive means.

She says the council work to connect homeless people with appropriate support services but have no control over the priority ratings or timeframes of when support or accommodation can be provided for them.

People living in temporary shelters will not be affected by the rough sleeping bylaw because begging and rough sleeping are only prohibited within five metres of any retail premises in the Tauranga, Mount Maunganui and Greerton city centres.

Ministry of Social Development Bay of Plenty regional commissioner Mike Bryant says, emergency accommodation is available for people facing an urgent housing need.

Emergency accommodation is a short term stay at motels or boarding houses and is funded by the MSD in the form of emergency housing special needs grants.

In the quarter ending June 30 2019, MSD approved 860 emergency housing special needs grants worth more than $1,000,000 in Tauranga.

'This is helping people or families in need of urgent housing into a short-term stay,” Mike says.

'No one needs to be homeless and we're here to help anyone who is sleeping in their car, or living rough.”

'We're here to help and want to talk to anyone who may be facing hardship about what they may be eligible for, what assistance is available and to support them the best we can.”

To report rough sleeping or begging people can contact the council call centre on 07-577 7000.

If members of the public are threatened or feel unsafe, they should report the incident to the Police.

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2 comments

Those 'Concerned'

Posted on 15-10-2019 09:21 | By Bruja

Need to take a good long look in the mirror! It is sad and disgraceful that 'some' human beings treat fellow human beings with such disdain and disregard. Frankly, YOU are more 'lowly' than those 'in need' ever could be. Have a real big think about YOUR behaviour, not theirs! :(


@Bruja

Posted on 15-10-2019 12:36 | By morepork

I agree with you that, in an affluent nation, we should be able to ensure that everybody has shelter, food and clothing at the very least. So why are there people in this situation? Any of us, at any time, could suffer reversal of fortune, find ourselves destitute, and need a hand from the community to get back on our feet. But nobody NEEDS to make this a way of life. We have mechanisms in place and spent a million dollars on it last year. I believe that, apart from the genuine cases who do need help, there is an increasing number of people who see bludging off the rest of us as an easy option. But I can't prove it, as no proper statistics are available... These ones make it harder for the genuine ones and cause the community to lose patience.


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