Auckland City Council
Media release

11 June 2009

Stakeholders work together to address anti-social behaviour and homelessness issues

Key stakeholders working to address the social issues of homelessness and anti-social behaviour in Auckland’s CBD have proposed a number of practical responses to improve the current situation.

This follows a request from the council’s Community Services Committee last year for a review of options to deal with both anti-social behaviour and homeless issues present in the central city.

One of the suggestions raised at the Community Services Committee meeting in December was to explore the development of a bylaw to address loitering, sleeping in doorways and begging in the CBD.

The chairperson of the committee, Councillor Paul Goldsmith, recently met with stakeholders who partner with the council on these issues, including the New Zealand Police, Auckland City Mission, Lifewise, The Salvation Army and Heart of the City, to discuss the proposed bylaw and other options.

In addition, the chairperson also met with Mr Philip Mangano, Executive Director of the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness, who is a leading international figure on issues relating to homelessness.

The stakeholder group agreed the best way forward is to address homelessness issues through continued commitment to the Homeless Action Plan and anti-social behaviour issues through existing bylaws.

There was also enthusiasm for a series of additional initiatives that stakeholders could progress, including working with local businesses to educate them on how to deal with homelessness near or inside their premises, as well as investigating an extension of the Walkwise programme (a service which involves patrols of the CBD by private security officers, who monitor a number of activities and also deal with anti-social behaviour issues as they arise).

Stakeholders acknowledge that while the council is taking a lead role in advocacy and coordination of homelessness issues, most of the required policy associated with homelessness relates to central government functions. As a result, Councillor Goldsmith will be writing to the Prime Minister to advocate for the stakeholders proposals’, including:

the need for a single central government point of accountability and responsibility for homelessness
the potential for a short term housing initiative in the CBD
the establishment of a special circumstances court

These three actions were considered to make the most significant difference to the circumstances of those who are homeless in Auckland’s CBD.

Councillor Goldsmith says he is pleased that stakeholders have reached agreement on the best way forward.

“Homelessness and anti-social behaviour are complex issues that require very different types of support from various groups. Both have a visible and ongoing impact at a local level, yet local government has limited powers and resources to address the complex underlying causes.

“We remain committed to continuing our work in this area and hope that the government listens to our concerns and ideas for improving the current situation.”

Ends

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