Research: Homelessness

Blanket Man’s back story – what’s really going on with our homeless

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“Maori are over-represented among the homeless, and Tangata Whenua  experience a spiritual disconnectedness from the land and from whanau,  hapu, and Iwi which adds a further dimension of disadvantage.”

“Besides single men, homelessness affects women, young people, victims of domestic violence, mental health consumers, people released from prison and families experiencing financial crisis. Certain common pathways present a high risk of becoming homeless.”

“Australian study of 103 homeless households identified five typical pathways into homelessness;

•  mental health pathway

• substance abuse

•  domestic violence

•  housing crisis

• youth pathway”

Homelessness in Aotearoa: Issues and Recommendations

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The University of Otago study, which is based on Census data, said one in 100 were homeless in 2013, compared with one in 120 in 2006 and one in 130 in 2001.

The study used the Government's official definition of homeless, which is people living in severely crowded houses, in motels, boarding houses, on the street or in cars.

Between 2006 and 2013, the rise in homeless people outstripped population growth.

New Zealand's population grew by 4.8 per cent over this period, while the number of homeless grew by 25 per cent.

The total number of homeless in 2013 was 41,075, or 1 per cent of New Zealand's population. In 2006, the number of homeless was 33,295, or 0.8 per cent of the population.

"Homelessness is worsening in New Zealand in terms of both numbers and as a proportion of the population," researcher Kate Amore said.People living in night shelters were excluded from the research.

"If the homeless population were a hundred people, 70 are staying with extended family or friends in severely crowded houses, 20 are in a motel, boarding house or camping ground, and 10 are living on the street, in cars, or in other improvised dwellings.

Homeless numbers rising in New Zealand

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"He is one of the 41,000 people in New Zealand who are severely housing deprived.
The paths to homelessness are complex. Anything from unemployment, poverty, illness, housing, addiction issues, abuse and family or relationship breakdowns can contribute towards people becoming homeless."

"Researcher at Otago University Dr Kate Amore says, as with Samuel, personal crisis can be a major push into homelessness.
Some people have been on the streets since childhood, leaving their families in order to escape terrible abuse.
For teenagers and adults chronic mental illness, sudden physical illness, relationship breakdowns and loss of employment are all factors which can contribute to a person not having a stable place to live."

"For women and children who end up on the streets the most common driver is family violence.
She says, however, that the biggest reason people end up sleeping rough in New Zealand is unaffordable housing - particularly the poor and vulnerable.
Even if they find a place to live, homeless people do not make for attractive tenants, Amore says."

"Lifewise chief executive Moira Lawler says for particularly vulnerable people, such as those with existing mental illness or difficult to diagnose conditions like head trauma, anything giving way in a person's life can lead them over the edge.
"Big life events happen to people all the time - but if you're already in a vulnerable place it's going to make things that much harder." "

The Complex Paths to Homelessness