Homelessness 'storm before the storm' despite new Government funding

Wednesday, 24 June 2026

Homelessness advocates in Hamilton have welcomed fresh Government funding for rough sleeper services, but warn the city’s crisis is far from over.

Ministers Chris Bishop and Tama Potaka have announced $14.5 million in nationwide funding for services supporting people experiencing homelessness, with Hamilton in line to receive a share.

But Te Whare Korowai Taangata o Kirikiriroa - Hamilton Christian Nightshelter Trust chief executive Joanne Turner says homelessness in the city has worsened since October and fears the worst is yet to come.

'You know how you've got a calm before the storm? I think we've got the storm before the storm [and] I think we're going to have another explosion,“ Turner said.

'There's many people out there struggling so damn hard to make it work. Costs of living are just becoming so exponential now that people are hanging on for dear life, getting closer towards homelessness.'

The comments come after the Waikato Times revealed homelessness in Hamilton rose by more than 300% last year. Turner said the trust interacted with 187 single adults last month alone.

While welcoming additional support, Turner said she wanted a clearer picture of what the funding would ultimately achieve.

An 'end-game explanation' of what the money will do would be helpful, she said, noting $14.5 million 'would have seemed like a lot of money six or seven years ago'.

She questioned whether the funding would resolve homelessness or if the announcement was 'just to get through the election period [and] appease voters', adding if “someone’s got a picture here that I don’t have?”

Turner said greater emphasis should be placed on preventing homelessness before people reach crisis point, including stronger mental health support and measures to prevent child abuse.

She compared the situation to a health system focused on patients with terminal illnesses while those with less severe symptoms deteriorate through lack of early intervention.

'I see the same with mental health services [and] Oranga Tamariki… the focus is on the real dire and then less focus is placed on individuals who could do with some preventative care.

'One of the things I'd really love to see is a greater emphasis on community [and] humanity. We've actually got services already set up but it's the provision of those services and their ability to see individuals as requiring help.'

Hamilton Mayor Tim Macindoe said he 'absolutely welcomed' the Government's investment, describing it as an important part of addressing homelessness.

Macindoe, who also serves on the trust's board, said funding would need to be shared across the country, including areas with high levels of homelessness but fewer support services than Hamilton.

However, he said the investment was an encouraging sign and highlighted the importance of wraparound support for people facing long-term challenges.

'People who struggle with homelessness deal with a range of different challenges and we absolutely have to be working alongside them, giving them support that is appropriate to their circumstances because their circumstances vary considerably.'

Potaka said it was too early to confirm how much of the funding Hamilton would receive, but said he was confident 'locally-led approaches are helping connect people with housing and the support they need to achieve long-term stability'.

Bishop said longer-term work was underway to 'address the underlying drivers of our housing crisis'.

The funding announcement comes as the trust continues expanding its support services, recently opening a new wraparound support hub at 468 Anglesea St.