26 February 2024
Media: Local Democracy Reporter
Topic: Homeless shelters
Enquiry
Further to an enquiry from 15 February which RLC responded to, reporter sent the following today:
I have the below for response if desired - I think probably all covered in previous response but just let me know if this will be responded to too.
Rough sleeper Anaru Hauiti sees a night shelter as a safe and secure place - and a way to keep him from the bottle - but there isn't one here.
He and his partner spoke to me at the Lakefront reserve last Thursday. (war memorial park - I'm assuming this is one of the reserves rough sleepers are told to move from being the lakefront)
His partner said she and Hauiti had been told to move from several Rotorua spots, including from a reserve for Hauiti’s intoxication. (Police did this - didn't say when but was from the Marist St Michaels reserve, would assume it was fairly recently as they are not from Rotorua)
“We move to different places to be told to move on.”
The pair met in an Auckland rehab facility and recently travelled down to Rotorua to see a friend. Sawyer was new to sleeping rough but Hauiti said he had been homeless for about 20 years - another reason why he found it hard to find permanent accommodation as he had no references, and it cost too much.
Cheap alcohol, bought with his sickness benefit, was his way to fall asleep, he said.
His addiction issues - which he said stemmed from growing up in a physically and sexually abusive environment - were the main reason he slept rough, he said.
It was also why he believed living with others facing similar challenges in transitional or emergency housing was detrimental to him and others with addictions.
Hauiti previously stayed at night shelters that required someone wanting help to be sober, and believed this was key. Security was also necessary, he said.
If there was one in Rotorua, he said he would “love” to stay in it.
Hauiti said he and Sawyer spent the last two nights on a friend’s van seat, and it had been the best sleep “in a very long time”.
“I could put my head down and actually sleep . . . I was comfortable and safe.”
Hauiti said it made him feel good mentally - and he did not need to drink to fall asleep.
These are things he believed a shelter would also provide.
And Visions CEO Tiny Deane provided me the following: Visions ran the last night shelter in the city and there were many positive outcomes for clients, along with the expected challenges. It was not able to be continued with the pandemic lockdowns that started in 2020. We recognise there is a current need that could provide positive benefits for shelter users and the community overall, but it would only be successful if it were adequately resourced in terms of security, facilities and wrap-around support for the clients/users.
Please let me know once this is received whether I can expect a response, and if so, can I please have it by 3pm, thank you.
Response
We thanked the reporter for the opportunity but said there was nothing further to add at this time to the information/comments provided on 15 February.
