Auckland cold weather snap: How to help homeless people during winter

Thursday, 20 June 2019

Volunteers gather at Eden Park for a safety briefing ahead of Auckland's first homeless census.

Around 800 people sleep rough in Auckland and as temperatures plunge many of them will be left in dire need of help.

Over the past few days temperatures have dropped as low as 4C and are set to dip further as winter takes hold.

On top of the rough sleepers there is also a much broader definition of homelessness, which includes not only those sleeping rough or in cars, but also those in emergency housing, couchsurfing or living in garages.

A homeless person sleeps their belongings on Queen St in Auckland.

According to the council, as many as 23,400 people in greater Auckland fit that definition and the figure is rising.

* Donate to the homeless using their barcode

* Sleeping rough in Manurewa: Six more homeless moved into housing**

With so many without a proper roof over their heads this winter, here's how you can help:

SPARE A BLANKET

Keeping warm is important during the Winter months, so if you have any blankets, duvets or pyjamas think about donating them to Give a kid a blanket.

The team are collecting blankets, duvets (inners and covers), sleeping bags, baby sleep sacks, beanies, socks, jumpers, warm jackets, raincoats, pyjamas, winter Bedding, new Pillows and new hot water bottles from June 1 until July 21.

A list of over 70 drop off points around Auckland can be found on their Facebook page.

Warm bedding can also be donated to the Auckland City Mission.

BE KIND

If you see someone sleeping rough, take the time to treat them with kindness.

Lend an ear, or offer to buy them a hot drink, Auckland City Mission CEO Chris Farrelly, said people should engage with homeless people when they see them.

'The other kind of coldness is loneliness. We ask people to connect with these people, say hello. The value of giving a cup of coffee or a little connect is important any time, but it's particularly important this time of the year.'

DONATE TO CHARITIES WHICH HELP HOMELESS PEOPLE

Donations can be made to the Auckland City Mission, as part of their annual Winter appeal, to help the organisation care for Aucklanders in need.

VisionWest Community Trust, are another organisation which work to reduce poverty and end homelessness in west Auckland, donations to help them achieve this can be made here.

If you head along to Merge Cafe on Auckland's K' Road, every dollar spent, will go towards support for people experiencing homelessness.

Donations can also be made to Lifewise, who run Merge Cafe, as well as hosting the annual big sleepout and offer help to those in the community.

De Paul House, on Auckland's North Shore provide emergency accommodation to homeless families, donations can be made here.

Monte Cecilia Housing Trust, in south Auckland also provides emergency accommodation to families, donations to the Trust, go towards helping those families in need.

CALL 111 OR 105

If you see someone sleeping rough who is in immediate danger, call 111, so that an ambulance can offer them assistance.

If you are concerned about someone, but it is not an emergency, call the non-emergency police line on 105.

WHERE PEOPLE CAN GET HELP

The Auckland City Mission is one of the few remaining social service providers in Auckland's inner city.

The mission's homeless community service, Haeata, provides warm meals to those in need every day of the year - it's open for breakfast and lunch on weekdays, and brunch, drop in and early dinner on weekends.