Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Help for the homeless
AUCKLAND CITY COUNCIL
MEDIA RELEASE
8 August 2007
Help for the homeless
Auckland City Council is continuing with its ongoing work to help improve the lives of the city’s homeless with a further $25,000 grant to fund an outreach service.
The outreach service is an after-hours mobile service that was established as part of the council’s Homeless Action Plan.
The service was introduced earlier this year and is a partnership between the council, the Auckland City Mission, the Methodist Mission Northern and the Salvation Army.
It involves a community worker putting homeless people in touch with the services they need, such as health care, drug and alcohol advice, counselling or accommodation providers.
Between March and May this year, the service made contact with nearly 100 homeless people.
The chairperson of the council’s Community Development and Equity Committee, Councillor Cathy Casey, says the outreach programme is a significant initiative.
“This service is touching base with people who would otherwise fall through cracks and helps to put them in touch with service providers who could make a real difference to their lives.
“It’s a credit to this council and the major service providers that they’ve had the foresight to join together to fund this very important initiative,” Dr Casey says.
She says the outreach service is only one of the areas the council is making progress on as part of its homeless action plan. The others include:
- work to establish the New Zealand Coalition to End Homelessness
- the introduction of a complaints management system so that council can better deal with reports of homelessness or begging
- training for frontline council staff on managing homeless people
- production of information cards for homeless people giving them details about hostels and other services.
The $25,000 grant for the outreach service is for the 2007/08 year and is part of three-year $135,000 budget to fund the homeless action plan.
“We have managed to do so much in the last three years on a limited budget. Imagine what we would be able to do with just a little bit more,” Dr Casey says.
She says there is still a lot more to be done and the council is now working with its partners on options for more accommodation for the homeless.
ENDS
Gordon Campbell: On What’s Wrong With The Treaty Principles Bill
NZ National Party: National Acknowledges The Passing Of Hon Nikki Kaye
Mana Mokopuna: Children And Young People Share Vital Insights On Healing From Family Violence And Sexual Violence In New Report
NZ Government: PM Marks One Year In Government
Helen Clark Foundation: Helen Clark Foundation Calls For Political Action To Reduce The Prevalence Of Junk Food And Improve Health Outcomes
Justice Committee: Further Decisions About Submissions Process For The Principles Of The Treaty Of Waitangi Bill
Infrastructure New Zealand: Single Agency Needed To Coordinate Climate Adaptation And Recovery
