Shelter nearing reality

Tauranga nightshelter trust officials are pleased persistence is finally paying off, with moves underway to create the city's first night shelter.

After years of discussion and fruitless searches by the Tauranga Moana Nightshelter Trust, Tauranga City councillors agreed this week to approve use of the land the Youth Hostel Association occupy for the purpose of a night shelter.


Tauranga Moana Nightshelter Trust secretary Mike Mills and chair Matt Elliott are pleased plans for the city's first night shelter are underway.

During the confidential meeting, 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 night shelter trust – and to support it in applications to other agencies.

The building is currently owned by the YHA, with the land leased from council.

Tauranga Moana Nightshelter Trust chairperson Matt Elliott says the finish line is finally in sight for the trust after years of tireless work and discussions.

Public support for the trust since its inception has been positive but the work is not quite complete, says Matt.

'We have got a lot of people that have supported us in what we are doing.”

The trust believes the central location is ideal due to the large concentration of homeless people in the CBD. It's estimated there is a consistent number of 30-40 chronic street homeless year-round in Tauranga.

'Police experiences show that housing homeless overnight has the potential to reduce the victimisation of the homeless and people in the community as well.”

But YHA New Zealand chief executive Mark Wells says talks of the site becoming a night shelter are premature, with nothing set in stone and only a conditional contract currently in place.

'These talks are premature and there is quite a lot of water to flow under the bridge at this stage,” says Mark.

'We will make decisions about alternative representation for the brand, if and when we get to that stage.”

Tauranga City Mayor Stuart Crosby says the approval to look at securing funding and completing the statutory and council processes looks to put an end to a 'frustrating period”.

'We have been frustrated to date without being able to locate or secure a site. Then when the Youth Hostel Association approached us that their site might become available, that started negotiations – and essentially their facility is purpose-built for the night shelter,” says Stuart.

'Hopefully we can secure the funding and get the appropriate consents and move forward; for the benefit of everyone in the city, not just the homeless.”

And with the building already equipped and operational, very little remodelling or alterations will be needed. Only lighting in and around the area, and fencing for safety and security reasons, will be required ahead of the trust's estimate of the facility being operational by mid-July 2014.

Tauranga Moana Nightshelter Trust secretary Mike Mills says this is an opportunity for the public to show the 'caring face” of the city, but he reminds people it will not resolve the issue of homelessness.

'We welcome the involvement of the community; we welcome gifts, donations and time. If people want to support what we are doing, now is a good time to do it,” says Mike.

'We are not saying it's going to solve the problem for homelessness. At the end of the day our first purpose is to provide shelter, but for those that choose we will also provide the pathway to rehabilitation.”

A Tauranga Yoga Centre spokesperson will not comment on the announcement, as the centre is yet to hold a committee meeting to discuss plans on having the night shelter housed directly next door.

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12 comments

But hold on a minute?

Posted on 24-04-2014 11:37 | By Annalist

The story says the YHA says there's only a conditional contract in place. What is the Council going to have to pay for the building? In my opinion not very smart for announcements to have been made as they may now affect the price in a way that will cost ratepayers even more? Also why does council seem to moan about government putting more and more costs onto it, then go ahead and consider providing a nightshelter?


Heartfelt thanks

Posted on 24-04-2014 11:54 | By robin bell

to all the good people involved.Without you the problems just get worse.Once again well done,and good luck.Robin Bell.


A suggestion

Posted on 24-04-2014 11:55 | By nerak

for donations - why not start with the folk who will spend many nights there, say 10%/night of their benefit. A cheap night's accommodation, surely, for a bed, shower etc. I don't think that is unkind, simply realistic in this age of user pays.


fantastic idea

Posted on 24-04-2014 12:25 | By susan

i think this is brilliant.


Special thanks

Posted on 24-04-2014 13:35 | By paperclip

To all the wonderful people(seen & unseen) who have contributed to this project.


really

Posted on 24-04-2014 13:52 | By Capt_Kaveman

there isn't a better place in Tauranga than this building


Bedding On A Roll!

Posted on 24-04-2014 13:56 | By Watchdog

Well done to the organisers and other supporters. This is exactly what was needed. Many homeless people choose their lifestyle but their health gets compromised by sleeping outdoors and this could be a way of encouraging them back into a normalised society - one step at a time. But, full marks for this plan.


I get the feeling it will get worse

Posted on 24-04-2014 14:59 | By Phailed1

Maybe Tourism BOP can promote Tauranga as the place for the so-called homeless to come to. Free shelter courtesy of the ratepayer. But the main thing is that should the problem increase, those promoting the shelter should be accountable. It's easy to be socially conscious when it's council supplying a building for a peppercorn rent.


Why should we

Posted on 25-04-2014 09:39 | By smurf

These people chose to live this way so why should ratepayers money provide shelter for them. Most of them probably spend their benefits on cigarettes and alcohol. If you try to charge them for using the shelter I doubt they would go there. Stop giving them cash and give them food and accommodation vouchers( maybe not as they would probably resort to crime then!!!)


Thatcher quote

Posted on 25-04-2014 09:59 | By Captain Sensible

Socialism is great.....until you run out of other peoples money.


To Smurf

Posted on 25-04-2014 12:46 | By FunandGames

We should becouse we humans hopefully have liffted ourselves above survival of the fittest. That said a mechanisim to force part of their benifits go towards the shelter could be explored


yes by nerak!

Posted on 25-04-2014 16:12 | By sambro

Totally agree with you and I just can't help but feel this is a bit of an expensive "ambulance at the bottom of the hill" but at worst it's philanthropic.


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