Homelessness in Hamilton soars by more than 300%

Tuesday, 5 August 2025

‘The growing presence of the street community, particularly within the Garden Place/CBD area’ was acknowledged in a recent Hamilton City Council report (file photo).

Homeless numbers in Hamilton have rocketed by more than 300% in just under a year, data from the Salvation Army reveals.

The staggering rise - between June 2024 and May 2025 - was revealed in their latest National Homelessness Data Project briefing for July 2025.

'In Hamilton in May 2025 there were approximately 130 people rough sleeping, with an additional 250 living in cars, a significant increase compared to June 2024 when approximately 90 people were estimated to be experiencing homelessness.'

Those figures equate to a 311% increase, not that the data surprised Joanne Turner, chief executive of Te Whare Korowai Taangata o Kirikiriroa - the Hamilton Christian Nightshelter Trust.

Turner told the Waikato Times homelessness in Hamilton had been “exponentially increasing, year on year”.

There’s no such thing as a spare bed in Hamilton night shelters now, says Te Whare Korowai Taangata o Kirikiriroa Hamilton Christian Nightshelter Trust boss Joanne Turner.

She said that when the night shelter was established in 2019 they used to have spare beds, but by 2020/21, “there’s no such thing”.

Turner said there were several factors behind the increases, including mental health, drug and alcohol addiction and people damaged by their experiences in state care.

“A hard thing to say. It means the state is probably creating poorer outcomes than the parents,” she said.

A sign of the worsening situation Turner sees came when she was asked about people ‘falling through the cracks’.

“These are no longer cracks, they’re chasms.”

Turner wasn’t optimistic about things improving either.

“It’s going to carry on getting worse, no doubt,” she said.

“Collateral damage of the way we choose to run society.”

A Hamilton City Council spokesperson told the Waikato Times the council “does not hold data on the number of homeless people in Hamilton”, but pointed to their June 5 Community and Natural Environment Committee report.

As of March this year more than 1000 applicants were on the public housing register in Hamilton, a table in a recent Hamilton City Council report revealed.

That report said 2023 Census data “estimated the number of homeless to be between 220-369 per 10,000 people for Hamilton City”.

“This means up to 6527 Hamiltonians are severely housing deprived.”

The report also noted that feedback from businesses, Garden Place residents and the Hamilton CBD Interagency Group “acknowledged the growing presence of the street community, particularly within the Garden Place/CBD area”.

Anti-social behaviour at Garden Place had previously been highlighted by the Waikato Times, with one resident describing people smoking cannabis at tables and in stairwells, particularly near Kozy Kitchen.

“They have a big problem with people sitting at their outdoor tables and smoking some really funky stuff.

“It stinks… I can even smell it from my first floor apartment.”

“In the words of the Hamilton CBD Interagency Group, ‘there is a need to stem the growing tide of those either in or on the verge of homelessness”.

Front line Salvation Army teams around the country see ‘housing stress’ every day, Ian Hutson said.

Salvation Army Lt Colonel Ian Hutson, mission officer for their Social Policy and Parliamentary Unit, said they saw increased homelessness nationwide.

“What we are seeing across our cities and regions is the impact of our housing deficit - an unparalleled disruption that is affecting our most vulnerable people and whānau,” he said.

Hutson said their latest survey on homelessness found a number of alarming trends, with no areas reporting declining homelessness, and more restricted access to emergency housing.

“These findings confirm what our frontline teams are seeing every day – more people facing housing stress, and many struggling to access the support they need,” he said.

“An immediate response from government is required to address immediate needs, as well as a longer-term strategy. At a very minimum, we need to ensure that all people who are experiencing homelessness can access a home, facilities and support.”

However, he also said opportunities exist for constructive change.

“By retaining and strengthening access to emergency housing, investing in proven short, medium and long-term support services, and, with government funding for more coordinated and consistent data collection we can better support people in need and work towards permanent solutions.”