The Government has signaled that it will be introducing legislation to give the NZ Police powers to 'move on' rough sleepers from public places if they are displaying a variety of behaviours: from threatening to begging to sleeping. The proposed legislation will move those so ordered for a period up to 24 hours and to a 'reasonable distance' from where they are.

This proposal is trying to fix a problem or rather kick it down the road. This is what I see are our problems:

Firstly, it has become over the last decade increasingly unsafe and intimidating in areas like downtown Auckland for residents (of whom there are about 30,000), pedestrians, shopkeepers and other businesses and their employees. Anecdotally, I've heard many stories of people's, particularly women's, bad and frightening experiences.

Secondly, the inability of our country and leaders to adopt a proven strategy for the minimalization, if not the eradication of poverty, has meant, amongst other things, that some find themselves sleeping rough. Those some are disproportionately affected by poor mental health, drug use, disconnection with their families, and/or recently time in prison. They also seem to be disproportionately male, and Māori and Pasifika.

Thirdly, although various charities, community support organisations, and agencies (supported in part by Government funding) have had some success in providing housing and wrap-around social services (the ‘Housing First’ strategy), and in some areas the number of rough sleepers has diminished, the bad and frightening experiences seemingly have not diminished.

Fourthly, unlike Wales, where since 20l4 the agencies of the state have had a ‘duty of care’ not to discharge or release people into homelessness, in New Zealand someone with minimal resources discharged from a mental health facility or prison often ends up sleeping rough.

Fifth, the Government, like most in the past, want a solution at minimal expense and that can be quickly implemented. So, for example, arresting rough sleepers for intimidation (putting aside for a moment the challenge of proof) would shift the problem in an expensive way onto the courts and prison system. Whereas 'moving on' doesn't. Keeping someone in the health system is also expensive.

Similarly, the time and goodwill needed to bring all the people and agencies concerned together (police, agencies, charities, business and residents’ associations, local council) to share what they are doing, their ideas and challenges, and then develop a common strategy, doesn’t happen quickly. Trust and goodwill take time to build.

So, we get this 'move/kick the problem down the road approach' which at best is a stop gap. Even the Police Association (the union for cops) see the problems with it.

Housing and support are the acknowledged solutions to rough sleeping, but take time, money, and commitment to this vulnerable population.

To make the streets safer for all (including for rough sleepers and the police) will take the building of a common strategy, maybe already tried and tested overseas, where all people are respected and valued.

Blessings, Glynn

Photo: Matt Collamer on Unsplash