Navigator to help homeless starts at Catholic agency

The programme started in November, and funding has been secured until June next year. CSS social worker Paul Barham said he is trying to meet up with people and find out if they are getting their correct entitlements from the Ministry.

Part of the contract gives him “fast track” to get documentation in and hopefully get people into housing.

“I haven’t had to go looking for people – the referrals are coming to me,” he said.

A Dunedin City Council report said an estimated 267 people in Otago experienced severe housing deprivation last year.

‘‘These individuals are living without shelter, sleeping rough in cars, tents or makeshift structures,” the report said.

‘‘This number reflects a growing crisis that is increasingly visible . . . and which current services are not adequately resourced to address.’’

In September, the Council agreed in principle to the establishment of its own housing outreach service with a cost of $270,000. But at a meeting on November 27, the Council opted to ask for expressions of interest and eventually proposals from community providers to set up such a service, Radio New Zealand reported.

The Council’s chief executive will develop the terms for service including an initial three-year service starting in April, performance measures and community outcomes, and annual reporting, before staff ask for expressions of interest to deliver the service.

Before the meeting, Catholic Social Services general manager Melanie McNatty had indicated support for further Council involvement.

‘‘Anything we can do as a city to strengthen working together and addressing homelessness is helpful,’’ she said.

Before the meeting, Ministry of Social Development southern commissioner Steph Voight said the ministry hoped the partnership would act as a circuit-breaker.

‘‘When people sleep rough, they live hard lives,’’ she said.

‘‘There are usually complex and difficult experiences which get someone to that place and those same experiences can make them wary of engaging with government agencies.’’

FULL STORY

Council mulls funding homelessness service (By Grant Miller/Otago Daily Times)

Dunedin City Council will ask for interest to set up housing outreach service (Radio New Zealand)