Dunedin City Council taking action to help homelessness in Ōtepoti-Dunedin

Two new Homeless Outreach Advisors have joined the DCC's Housing Policy team and will soon be out in the community helping whānau experiencing homelessness, working to connect them with existing services and identifying gaps in care and support.

While the DCC already plays a role in helping homeless whānau and those who might become homeless, particularly with help with securing housing, the new outreach advisors will further develop relationships and coordinate with other agencies supporting homeless people.

“Homelessness is increasing in numbers and visibility in communities across the country, particularly urban centres, and Dunedin is experiencing this as well,” says Nicola Morand, General Manager Community and Strategy, Dunedin City Council.

“Residents and businesses are asking for solutions, expressing their concern for the welfare of homeless people, for community safety and impact on public spaces.”

DCC’s Homelessness Outreach Advisors are not providing counselling or social worker services, but rather will work to connect with providers already working in the community and help homeless whānau navigate the support and services available, including housing options, healthcare, mental health support, addiction services, and income assistance.

The Homeless Outreach Advisors service is designed to complement – not duplicate -- services delivered by community-based providers, says Ms Morand: “With dedicated workers connecting with homeless whānau and providers, we get a better understanding of the issues leading to homelessness, can help connect them with the services that are already available, and identify what support is missing. And more than supporting those in need, we also want to take steps to prevent homelessness.”

After considering options, including outsourcing to a community provider, Councillors voted for an inhouse service in April.

While Homeless Outreach Advisors are newly created roles at the DCC, similar positions exist in Wellington, Christchurch, Tauranga, Auckland and many other cities across the country.

No simple solution

Homelessness – which can include sleeping rough and living in uninhabitable environments such as cars -- is a complex issue and a challenge most communities are facing.

There are a range of factors that can contribute to a person becoming homeless, including cost of living, traumatic life events and family breakdowns, unemployment and debt, mental and physical health issues and addictions.

While the exact number of homeless in Dunedin is not known, it is agreed that there has been an increase in homeless population recent years.

Next Steps

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In the coming weeks, the outreach advisors will be meeting with retail and hospitality businesses, other community-based support services, government agencies, health services and law enforcement.

“The first step will be to identify immediate needs, begin the dialogue and build trust,” says Gill Brown, Principal Policy Advisor, Housing. “We know there is a lot of work to do, and we are confident this service will have genuine impact.”

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