At Tuesday’s meeting, the Dunedin City Council agreed, in principal, to establish a dedicated outreach service within the council to meet its goal of functional zero homelessness in Dunedin.
Cr Jim O’Malley said he supported the motion, proposed by Cr Marie Laufiso, but hoped it was followed by a more "holistic" approach by the council.
"We’ve got some commentary coming that central government has withdrawn from its role ... but it looks like they’re not coming back."
The council did not have the in-house expertise needed for such a service and it would be a major activity to pursue — "but I don’t think we can ignore it".
"I’ve imagined that [this motion’s] a starting point ... and I would like to see this eventually develop all the way into a consultation component of the next 10-year plan as to whether the people of the city want to take on an action that the politicians in Wellington have withdrawn from this city."
Cr Kevin Gilbert said it was clear central government was avoiding its responsibility.
"It’s really disappointing that we have to even consider this. But the point is, we do.
"At this stage, it is starting the conversation and that’s, for me, the main bit."
Cr Sophie Barker said investigating an outreach service was a good start, but a review of the council’s housing plan was needed as well.
Cr Lee Vandervis said while he agreed statistics on homelessness were "stark", it was a complex issue the council lacked expertise or resource to address.
"For us to pretend that we can do the government’s job on dealing with this extreme end of homelessness I think is ... fanciful at best and perhaps can be seen simply as virtue signalling."
Cr Laufiso said she wanted to acknowledge the work of housing principal policy adviser Gill Brown — "our sole officer responsible for the implementation of our Housing Action Plan".
"Where resources are limited, we should focus on supporting the people with the greatest need."
Councillors approved the motion 14-1, Cr Vandervis recording his vote against.
A report on the costs and implications of an outreach service will go to the council after next month’s election and include an option to increase the budget and staff numbers in the housing policy team.
