Hostel becomes night shelter

Tauranga's first night shelter to accommodate the city's growing number of street sleeping homeless will be the former Youth Hostel in Elizabeth Street.

The decision was made in yesterday's confidential Tauranga City Council meeting where councillors agreed to approve the use of the land that the YHA occupy for the purpose of the Tauranga Moana Nightshelter Trust establishing a night shelter.

Council has decided to turn the Youth Hostel on Elizabeth Street into a homeless shelter.

The council also approved the release of $118,000 set aside from the Stewart Trust Fund in 2009 for the night shelter.

Council will also go ahead with public notification of the change of land use application required under the Reserves Act 1977, including approving a lease and peppercorn land rental of $1 per annum to the Trust – and to support the night shelter trust in applications to other agencies.

The Tauranga Moana Night shelter Trust has been working with Tauranga City Council over the past few years exploring potential sites for a night shelter for homeless people in Tauranga.

The Youth Hostel Association (YHA) approached Mayor Stuart Crosby in December 2013 with a proposal for the Trust to purchase the YHA building at 171 Elizabeth Street for the night shelter and take over the land lease.

The building is currently owned by the YHA and the land leased from Council.

The central location is ideal due to the large concentration of homeless people in the CBD. The building is also fit-for-purpose as it is already used as an accommodation facility.

The Trust estimates that there is a consistent number of 30-40 chronic street homeless all year round in Tauranga.

The proposed night shelter would provide an accommodation facility and access to support services for homeless people.

Following completion of the statutory and Council processes the Trust aim to have the night shelter operational from mid July 2014.

Tauranga Moana Night shelter Trust was legally incorporated in April 2010 and registered with the Charities Commission in June 2010.

The trustees are representatives of a range of agencies that interact with the homeless and include the NZ Police, Tauranga Safe City, Bay of Plenty District Health Board, St Peter s Church, Elim Church, Ngai Te Rangi Iwi, and consumer advocates.

Extensive research has been done in New Zealand and overseas that show the benefits of early intervention, and a staged process for supporting people from rough living through supported accommodation into sustainable self-sufficiency.

A number of local authorities have homelessness strategies and night shelter operate in every major city in New Zealand – Auckland, Hamilton, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin.

The night shelter will not resolve homelessness, but it provides a focus for response around which additional services can be developed and the associated problems reduced.

The night shelter at Elizabeth Street will initially be a men-only facility as this is where there is the greatest need. It will cater for approximately 15-20 homeless people per night.

There will be set hours where the homeless arrive and depart the facility. I will operate within a code of conduct including clear behavioural guidelines, and employ one full-time manager and be staffed at night by an on-site night manager.

You may also like....

11 comments

here's a novel idea

Posted on 23-04-2014 13:53 | By NRG-TGA

How about we either move them towards work and a sustainable living ie tell them to suck it up and contribute. (after all it's not too much to ask), or place them in to an appropriate institution (which of course were all done away with over the years to save money!!!!!!! )so we don't have to deal with constant defecation, rubbish, theft ,nuisance, and the incoherent abuse that comes our way while we go about our work days. A bit over it all


Welfare is the role of Govt, not ratepayers

Posted on 23-04-2014 13:57 | By Annalist

But here we go again and Council is getting involved in social work. Who is going to pay for the ongoing costs of the shelter, will it be Council in any way? What if the shelter attracts more vagrants to the city, leading to demands for more shelters?


Lookout ratepayers ...

Posted on 23-04-2014 14:01 | By Murray.Guy

This 'new lease' agreement will make your eyes water, your bank manager wince! $1 per year. The terms of the lease have not been reported and I'm almost too afraid to ask as in the past TCC Staff have provided leases of valuable public space in perpetuity and at no rental. This now sets a precedent for ALL charitable organisations in our city and NOT just those on Council land. There is a direct cost to ratepayers in the $1000's with this deal (nice to have the Mayor as Patron) and surely if integrity is to be applied, all community benefit organisations should be eligible for the same! All of the tenants (many charitable community help focused, incl The Mens Shed) at the Historic Village pay full Commercial rents and pay rates! No community opportunity for input and secret briefings! Beggars belief albeit consistent this past 6 months!


Just a question

Posted on 23-04-2014 15:07 | By Ross01

Where has the YHA moved to? That place seemed to be very full and busy last summer


Hostels

Posted on 23-04-2014 16:31 | By Rik

Tauranga Mt Maunganui Needs more backpackers not less.


It doesn't take much

Posted on 23-04-2014 17:40 | By sojourner

It doesn't take much to become homeless. An earthquake, a nasty divorce, a mental illness, a well meaning but bad decision resulting in loss,and once there it is almost impossible to get out of that hole. I am disturbed by the selfish and heartless comments that this situation seems to elicit. I am so thankful this council has made this move and hope it can be realized before it gets too cold. Homeless people are still human beings, living without love and care. A little compassion goes a long way.


Theodorus

Posted on 23-04-2014 21:02 | By Theodorus

This night shelter is a great idea an we should give them something to do as well in Eindhoven{The Netherlands}they were given a wagon and a wind up organ on it and pulled by a horse making music in city centres and collecting a little bit money and support and keeping them out of trouble also!


This

Posted on 23-04-2014 23:17 | By Capt_Kaveman

has been in the pipeline for about 4 years it was always finding the right place, most other cities in NZ have one and is very much needed, these shelters have strict rules before others start to slander it off


PC nonsense

Posted on 24-04-2014 11:34 | By Captain Sensible

It seems the only person who gets nothing from my Rates (aka Council theft) is.....ME!


This would seem to be a central govt responsibility

Posted on 24-04-2014 19:42 | By southmark

as it would appear to be related to (mental) health care, and I hope it will be pursued as such. But at least something is being for these folks


Rates provides

Posted on 25-04-2014 17:27 | By didee

to PC Nonsense - do you live here?? Use the roads, library, water, street lights parks?? Where does your waste go??? We all use services our rates pay for and I for one am proud we are looking after our homeless - That could be you one day or a family member so be a little understanding.


Leave a Comment


You must be logged in to make a comment.