Homeless man finally finds a home

Workers dismantle a camp built by a homeless man next to Takitimu Drive. Photo/Andrew Warner

A man who set up a makeshift hut and camped out for months next to a busy Tauranga highway has now finally found a home.

The man had become the subject of complaint earlier this year after he was discovered sleeping rough in a reserve area next to Takitimu Drive. The man had built a small shelter out of cardboard, branches and a tarpaulin.

This morning , workers in high visibility vests could be seen clearing the area, on the eastern side of the highway. A pile of branches lashed together with rope, buckets, clothing and rubbish was collected.

Tauranga City Council customer services manager Margaret Batchelar said the area was cleared because the homeless man responsible for it was now living in a Housing New Zealand home.

"The makeshift shelter was dismantled because it is no longer needed by the guy who was camped out there,'' she said.

''This is the culmination of a lot of time and effort, working with other agencies, to get the homeless man some accommodation.

''Nice to have a good result."

The council was continuing its work with other social agencies to better understand the problem, she said.

The man took what items he wanted to his new home and the rest of the items were disposed of as befitting their condition.

The council and other agencies are working with other homeless cases around the city.