Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Work smarter with a Pro licence Learn More

Local Govt | National News Video | Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Search

 

Mayor Phil Goff announces homeless count results

Tuesday 9 October, 2018

On the eve of World Homeless Day, Auckland Mayor Phil Goff has announced the results of Ira Mata, Ira Tangata: Auckland’s Homeless Count.

The figures reveal that around 800 people are currently living without shelter in Auckland, a number which jumps to over 3,000 when those in temporary and emergency housing are added.

The homeless count was a point in time count to discover the extent of chronic homelessness (those people sleeping on the street and in cars) across Auckland. It was conducted on 17 September, organised by the Housing First Collective and supported by Auckland Council.

The people living without shelter who were counted on the night numbered 336 (179 people sleeping rough and 157 people sleeping in cars). A validation exercise, under the guidance of statistician Dr Nevil Pierse from Otago University, confirmed the number of people counted on the night and produced an estimate of 800 being the number of people living without shelter in Auckland.

Mayor Phil Goff said, “Our goal is to end homelessness, not just manage it. Measuring the extent of homelessness in Auckland gives us the data we need to inform policy and services that will help solve this pressing issue.

“800 people sleeping rough in Auckland is 800 too many. Add to that another 2,874 in temporary or emergency accommodation and we’re looking at thousands of adults and children without a safe, secure, warm home to live in.

“The reasons for a person becoming homeless are complex. Further results from the count in December will provide greater detail as to how people have come to live without shelter.

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading

Are you getting our free newsletter?

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.

“The Homeless Count will significantly improve our understanding of the shape and scale of homelessness in Auckland and ensure effective services can help get people off the street, out of cars and into homes.

“I took part in the count and walked the streets of Mangere in the middle of the night. It brought home the miserable existence for many people who sleep rough in our region.

“The number of rough sleepers might have been a lot larger if it weren’t for the work of Housing First which Council supports.

“Housing First is the principal initiative Council is supporting to get people off the street by first housing them and wrapping the necessary support services around them to ensure they do not end-up back on the street.

“In the first 15 months of the Housing First programme the providers have housed 582 adults and families in secure, affordable and healthy homes. This fantastic work means 582 people get to wake-up each morning with a roof over their heads and somewhere to call home rather than in a doorway or in a car.

“Our whole community has a role in ending homelessness. We are working closely with Government, NGOs and community organisations and results from the Homeless Count will inform a sector-wide strategy to end homelessness in Auckland.

“This count would not have been possible without the support of 660 volunteers. I met many passionate and caring people during the count who like me want to end homelessness in Auckland, and I thank them for their efforts,” Phil Goff said.

The count organised by the Housing First collective and Auckland Council was the first time a Point in Time Count of this scale has been undertaken in New Zealand.

ENDS

© Scoop Media

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading
 
 
 
Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Regional Headlines


Gordon Campbell: On The US Opposition To Mortgage Interest Deductibility For Landlords


Should landlords be able to deduct the interest on the loans they take out to bankroll their property speculation? The US Senate Budget Committee and Bloomberg News don't think this is a good idea, for reasons set out below. Regardless, our coalition government has been burning through a ton of political capital by giving landlords a huge $2.9 billion tax break via interest deductibility, while still preaching the need for austerity to the disabled, and to everyone else...
More


 
 

Government: Concerns Conveyed To China Over Cyber Activity
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has confirmed New Zealand’s concerns about cyber activity have been conveyed directly to the Chinese Government. “The Prime Minister and Minister Collins have expressed concerns today about malicious cyber activity... More

ALSO:


Government: GDP Decline Reinforces Government’s Fiscal Plan

Declining GDP for the December quarter reinforces the importance of restoring fiscal discipline to public spending and driving more economic growth, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says... More

ALSO:


Government: Humanitarian Support For Gaza & West Bank

Winston Peters has announced NZ is providing a further $5M to respond to the extreme humanitarian need in Gaza and the West Bank. “The impact of the Israel-Hamas conflict on civilians is absolutely appalling," he said... More


Government: New High Court Judge Appointed

Judith Collins has announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister Jason Scott McHerron as a High Court Judge. Justice McHerron graduated from the University of Otago with a BA in English Literature in 1994 and an LLB in 1996... More

 
 
 
 
 
 

LATEST HEADLINES

  • PARLIAMENT
  • POLITICS
  • REGIONAL
 
 

InfoPages News Channels


 
 
 
 

Join Our Free Newsletter

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.