Opinion: A full night shelter is a concern to us all

The Tauranga Moana Night Shelter. Photo/File

Tauranga homeless men are being turned away from the city's night shelter because it is at capacity.

The shelter's 30 beds are in constant demand, with a 94.5 occupancy rate. Workers are often put in the awful position of having to turn needy men away at the door.

Those are just the men who ask for help - there are others who, for reasons of their own, decide to tough it out without help.

The picture this paints of our city is alarming.

I remember when homelessness in Tauranga seemed quite rare - there were a few rough sleepers that were quite well-known figures around town, but nothing like what we see today.

Last week, I was parked up at the traffic lights at Elizabeth St and Devonport Rd when I saw a dishevelled young man dig around in a rubbish bin, pull something out, take a bite, then throw it back.

It was broad daylight and crowds of people were walking around him, all averting their eyes as he rummaged in the bin.

It was a shocking sight - firstly, that this man was in such a desperate state and secondly, that no one batted an eyelid.

The light changed and I drove away, a guilty feeling in the pit of my stomach.

The Tauranga Moana Night Shelter near on works miracles for the men it helps. It's had some very inspiring success stories and has changed the lives of many men, helping them access social services to deal with their problems and eventually get them into stable housing.

I hope the young man I saw, and others like him, eventually find their way to the doors of the night shelter and are able to get the help they need to have a safer and more secure life.