Council approves Homelessness Strategy
Wellington City Council last night unanimously approved a Homelessness Strategy that aims to assist the city's homeless
and help address related safety concerns.
Mayor Kerry Prendergast says the Homelessness Strategy was prompted by recommendations made by the city's Homeless
Taskforce established in July last year and has been devised in consultation with a number of social agencies.
"Homelessness is a difficult issue that many cities struggle with. With this strategy we believe we have a guiding
document for the city and an agreement for all those involved in the care and support of homeless people," she says.
The Strategy outlines the Council's role in addressing issues associated with homelessness. It provides a platform for
preventative action and early intervention and also acknowledges the Council's contribution as a social housing provider
with nearly 2500 housing units. The Strategy - just one of a raft of Council measures to tackle homelessness and
associated issues - aims to improve the quality of life for homeless people and those at risk of becoming homeless by
increasing accessibility to services.
It also aims to help address community concerns about the safety of areas that homeless people frequent. "I want to
assure people that unacceptable behaviour will not be tolerated and the strategy recognises both aspects of the
Council's role - responding to anti-social behaviour but also treating the city's residents with both compassion and
respect," says Mayor Prendergast.
The key principles of the Strategy are:
* Improving the quality of life of homeless people in a compassionate and sustainable manner.
* Promoting effective collaboration and partnership.
* Being responsive to the changing characteristics and circumstances of homeless people.
* Respecting and upholding the rights of all Wellington residents to safety and wellbeing.
Mayor Prendergast says the Council is well aware of community concern about the anti-social and disruptive behaviour of
some homeless people in the central city. The Council has housed many of these people and is actively working with the
city's social agencies to obtain support and assistance for them.
"We know that no one approach works in isolation - we need to employ a variety of methods and actively draw the agencies
together to take a co-ordinated approach so we can make a real difference."