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Homelessness
Introduction |
What are we doing to help? |
Partner organisations
What are we doing to help?
Auckland City has developed a
Homeless Action Plan, which outlines council's role in working with many community organisations,
corporate bodies and central government agencies, to promote better coordination of the services provided to homeless people in Auckland.
The action plan focuses on:
| Outreach service and crisis housing |
| The plan aims to assess and improve crisis services for the homeless. This would see better coordination of services and enable
homeless people to gain easier access to the services they need. |
| Key aims |
- Develop a professional outreach service to assist homeless people to find solutions to their needs. This team would deliver a mobile street
outreach service, including: health, drug and alcohol services. The team would also provide a coordination point for services provided by
multiple agencies and address difficulties in accessing services.
- Investigate improvement to the current crisis accommodation options, to ensure that the needs of women, children and young people are
addressed.
- Address issues around transitioning people from crisis housing into more permanent housing solutions.
- Identify gaps in the provision of services and enable homeless people to access these essential services, such as showers, toilets and
regular meals.
|
| The oversight of homelessness in public spaces |
| The plan aims to promote a proactive approach by front line city council staff to address homeless issues in public spaces such
as streets, parks and civic buildings. These areas are ones where homeless people often congregate. Staff will provide information and
referrals to appropriate services. |
| Key aims |
- Provide a series of training workshops to Auckland City Council staff who come into contact with homeless people on a regular basis. This will
enable council staff to provide practical, proactive advice and information to homeless people.
- Develop a streamlined management system to ensure that homeless people are being referred to the appropriate support service, such as the
homeless missions.
|
| Public awareness and leadership |
| The plan aims to raise awareness around issues relating to homelessness in all sectors of society. This will include the promotion
of positive collaborative initiatives such as a national forum on homelessness. The plan aims to work collaboratively with government
departments and other relevant organisations to improve outcomes for homeless people. |
| Key aims |
- Arrange regular forums to enable agencies to share information/practical solutions around the issues of homelessness. The forums will
highlight key concerns and emerging trends in homelessness - at a national, regional, and local level. It will provide a springboard for
advocacy to central and local government, businesses and the community.
- Explore options for publishing the Big Issue, a magazine that homeless people can sell to earn an income.
- Work closely with other stakeholders within central government, business and community to promote the awareness of the issues of
homelessness.
- Promote a more consistent and responsive approach to the needs of homeless people.
|
Priority outcomes:
- To raise additional funding to support services for homeless people.
- To advocate for homeless people and ensure a consistent approach to addressing the issue of homelessness.
- To expand the current services available to homeless people and ensure these meet the specific needs of all members of the homeless community.
- To improve the perceptions of safety within Auckland city.
