Homeless shelter battle continues

Rotorua retailers may not want a homeless shelter in the central city, but the Nightshelter Trust remains keen to clinch a deal for an Eruera St site.

The property in question for the homeless shelter is above sex shop Adult World.

It's envisaged the shelter would be open from 6pm to 8pm each day.

There would be strict rules for those using the shelter, including when people came in during the evening, they would not be allowed out until the next morning.

Despite concerns from neighbouring retailers, Nightshelter Trust chairman Peter Fry said he was trying to secure the space.

The Rotorua Energy Charitable Trust gave Rotorua's Nightshelter Trust $20,000 on the condition a suitable building was found and Mr Fry said he wanted to see Rotorua's homeless with a roof over their heads at night, rather than sheltering in public areas.

Mr Fry said he was waiting to hear back from the Rotorua District Council about whether the trust could apply for resource consent for the Eruera St building under the budget accommodation category.

The need for a homeless shelter in Rotorua was evident in the number of inquiries the city's Citizens' Advice Bureau received every year.

Co-ordinator Jane Eynon-Richards said the local bureau averaged up to 60 inquiries for emergency housing a year and it was very difficult finding people temporary housing.

Among those asking for help were men with nowhere to sleep, but Mrs Eynon-Richards said there was little the bureau could do other than refer them elsewhere. The bureau helped people look at different options including whether they had any money, links with Rotorua iwi, church groups or family.

Alternatively, the bureau sent them to places like the YWCA, camp grounds, cabins or backpackers where the homeless might be able to stay for a night or two, she said.

A shelter would provide a much-needed longer-term solution for the city's vagrants.

"I think we're big enough, we do need a nightshelter for emergency purposes."

Senior Sergeant Greg Sparrow of Rotorua police said while he did not think the problem in Rotorua was any worse than other areas, it would be more desirable to have people staying at a shelter than on the streets. A favoured spot for the city's homeless was Kuirau Park because of the geothermal activity there.

"They lie on the concrete so they keep warm."

Not many vagrants were dealt with by police for offending but there were some who turned to crime in order to survive, Mr Sparrow said.

"It's through rummaging through rubbish bins or it's through petty theft."