The issue has proved a prolonged one for the council — in September last year, the council agreed in principle to establish a Housing Outreach Service and requested a report outlining the costs and implications.
On Thursday, the council will debate whether to provide the service ‘‘in-house’’, have it done privately or use some form of hybrid model.
‘‘Each proposed model presents different advantages and risks but, in all cases, council retains ultimate accountability for outcomes,’’ the briefing papers said.
‘‘All models are viable. The decision depends on council’s preferred balance between speed and certainty (external), control and integration (in-house), or a staged approach (hybrid).’’
Should the councillors decide to go with a private supplier other than the one already canvassed by staff, the briefing paper warned any new procurement process would inevitably create delay and the outcome was uncertain.
For all options, annual reporting will be required and a review will be undertaken by the council and it is expected service delivery could happen in June.
The debate comes after the councillors received a report in November, which indicated while existing services provide valuable support, they have not, on their own, achieved sustained reductions in homelessness.
It proposed a proactive outreach model to strengthen co-ordination, improve service access, and support pathways into stable housing.
It also put the proposal out to tender, receiving six submissions — of which three were assessed by a tenders board.
The issue has proved a lightning rod for public opinion — Cr Brent Weatherall has publicly worried about the CBD turning into ‘‘the Bronx’’, while the government wants to introduce laws to allow police to ‘‘move on’’ disruptive homeless people.
Meanwhile, an explosive email chain leaked to the Otago Daily Times revealed divisions spanning from whether the upcoming meeting should be public-excluded to complaints about possible providers for the outreach service.
