25 signatures reached
To: Rotorua City Council
Provide a shelter for Rotorua homeless
To provide a building suitable for Rotorua's homeless when days and nights are particularly wet and cold. Also include a washing and laundry facility where homeless can, change and wash clothes.
Why is this important?
Rotorua is second to Auckland for its number of homeless.[1] Given the comparative size of the two cities and those elsewhere in the country, this constitutes a large proportion of the local population.
Many of the homeless become particularly ill over winter. The majority of Rotorua's homeless prefer to live outdoors, but the weather takes its toll. Many are not use to living indoors, however they need a place of refuge near the city centre, when inclement weather occurs. They also need a place to wash, go to the toilet and a place to store such equipment as sleeping bags. An open sided shelter, with possibly one wall to provide privacy and protection from prevailing winds would provide more comfort and safety.
The make up of homeless is complex and has indeed been exacerbated by the problem with housing unaffordability.[2] The reality is that while unaffordability of housing appears here to stay there is a large proportion of the population who simply do not know how to live in houses and sleep in our parks, under thermal pipes and for many in Rotorua on the verandah of the Tea House in the Government Gardens.
Currently there are up to 110 who meet regularly at the Government Gardens where they are given an evening meal. A similar number receive an evening meal from the Love Soup initiative.
Approaches have been made to the City Council. Unfortunately any requests to them appears to go under their radar.
The fact that Phil Twyford, Minister for Housing, is alarmed at the homeless situation means possible pressure may come onto local Councils to do more. Consideration given to the setting up of a ministerial portfolio for the homeless, is possible in July.
The vision for this petition is for land in a central location, ideally between the Lake and the Government Gardens, to be provided in an area out of sight from most residents and visitors to the city. A one walled shelter be built that would provide space sufficient for those needing to be out of the rain and a wall that provides not only privacy but protection from the wind be included. Additional consideration needs to be given to ablution amenities, showers, a laundry facility and changing rooms. These would be a long the lines of camping ground amenities. The Council would be responsible for the maintenance of the facility in the same way they do for other public amenities. The exception being these facilities would not be locked or closed in the evenings.
1 - Gina Peiffer, Rotorua Post April 23, 2017
2 - Rotorua Post Oct 14, 2017
3 - Homeless headcount finds 48 people sleeping rough in Rotorua
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/rotorua-daily-post/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503438&objectid=12007900
4 - Homelessness on the rise in Rotorua http://www.maoritelevision.com/news/regional/homelessness-on-rise-rotorua
Many of the homeless become particularly ill over winter. The majority of Rotorua's homeless prefer to live outdoors, but the weather takes its toll. Many are not use to living indoors, however they need a place of refuge near the city centre, when inclement weather occurs. They also need a place to wash, go to the toilet and a place to store such equipment as sleeping bags. An open sided shelter, with possibly one wall to provide privacy and protection from prevailing winds would provide more comfort and safety.
The make up of homeless is complex and has indeed been exacerbated by the problem with housing unaffordability.[2] The reality is that while unaffordability of housing appears here to stay there is a large proportion of the population who simply do not know how to live in houses and sleep in our parks, under thermal pipes and for many in Rotorua on the verandah of the Tea House in the Government Gardens.
Currently there are up to 110 who meet regularly at the Government Gardens where they are given an evening meal. A similar number receive an evening meal from the Love Soup initiative.
Approaches have been made to the City Council. Unfortunately any requests to them appears to go under their radar.
The fact that Phil Twyford, Minister for Housing, is alarmed at the homeless situation means possible pressure may come onto local Councils to do more. Consideration given to the setting up of a ministerial portfolio for the homeless, is possible in July.
The vision for this petition is for land in a central location, ideally between the Lake and the Government Gardens, to be provided in an area out of sight from most residents and visitors to the city. A one walled shelter be built that would provide space sufficient for those needing to be out of the rain and a wall that provides not only privacy but protection from the wind be included. Additional consideration needs to be given to ablution amenities, showers, a laundry facility and changing rooms. These would be a long the lines of camping ground amenities. The Council would be responsible for the maintenance of the facility in the same way they do for other public amenities. The exception being these facilities would not be locked or closed in the evenings.
1 - Gina Peiffer, Rotorua Post April 23, 2017
2 - Rotorua Post Oct 14, 2017
3 - Homeless headcount finds 48 people sleeping rough in Rotorua
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/rotorua-daily-post/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503438&objectid=12007900
4 - Homelessness on the rise in Rotorua http://www.maoritelevision.com/news/regional/homelessness-on-rise-rotorua