Public Statement from Visionwest on ‘Move On’ Orders
Visionwest Community Trust is calling for urgent, coordinated action to address the recent rise in rough sleeping across Auckland, especially the number of street dwellers in the suburbs. Every day, Visionwest teams walk alongside whānau sleeping rough across West and North Auckland, while also extending vital housing support to those in South Auckland. Along with others working in this sector, we are concerned about the impact the new ‘move on’ orders will have on whānau sleeping rough.
Visionwest values its strong relationships with various government agencies and actively welcomes and increased funding from previous and present governments. Such government investments have enabled us to grow our Outreach Team and fit out a new RV to serve as a mobile hub of care, bringing support directly to whānau wherever they are across the city. Equally, this support has backed our efforts to house an additional 90 whānau through our Housing First programme. On the other hand, following recent reductions in emergency housing support, Visionwest has been deeply concerned by the rising numbers of homelessness across the communities we serve.
What’s Driving Visible Homelessness?
The Housing First model is a proven initiative with a strong track record of moving people from the streets into permanent housing with no readiness criteria.
However, recent limited increases in housing support funding for CHP’s, combined with reduced emergency accommodation options have coincided with a noticeable increase in rough sleeping across Auckland, including women, the elderly, youth, and vulnerable whānau.
Important to note is the fact that visible homelessness is not the total homeless population across Auckland. Many individuals and families go unseen, living in cars, garages, and overcrowded or unsafe housing situations. We must not forget those who are trapped in hidden homeless situations in our efforts to provide support and housing to those facing severe housing deprivation.
Displacement Undermines What Works
Visionwest works closely in a collaborative approach with frontline partners to address homelessness. No one agency can solve the challenges we face. It takes collective action for the betterment of every Aucklander who finds themselves with no fixed abode. Across the sector, there is a consistent view that enforcement-led responses disrupt social agency engagement and can sever outreach connections, delay access to housing, and simply move the presenting need from one location to another.
Fred Astle, Deputy CEO / Tumu at Visionwest, observes
“Māori are overrepresented amongst rough sleepers, and are far more interested in finding whanaungatanga (connection) than being abusive or disruptive. Punitive measures like fines or “moving people on” only deepen intergenerational mamae (pain) and put distance between them and social service kaimahi (staff) and their whānau centric, mana enhancing solutions. We’re clear: restoring mana – not displacement – is the only way to achieve lasting stability for whānau.”
Visionwest and sector partners recognise occasional problematic behaviour but note police already have adequate authority to address it.
Housing First is not an overnight intervention. It is a structured, evidence-based process built on trust, consistent engagement, and wraparound support. It has no readiness criteria and offers self-determination in terms of the location and typology of housing required by whānau.
By walking alongside people, instead of enforcing rules upon them, our experience has been overwhelmingly successful. Just take our recent Impact Lab Good Homes report which shows that 86% of those housed through Visionwest’s Housing First programme successfully graduated with a positive housing outcome.
Invest in What Works
Homelessness is solvable. The pathway forward is clear:
- Expand Housing First placements, backing an evidence-based approach
- Strengthen wraparound health and social support, giving social agencies the capacity to respond to escalating need
- Increase affordable and social housing supply via CHP investment
- Align central & local government, Police, NGOs and community partners in a collaborative approach
- Recognise mental health and addiction challenges amongst street homeless and invest resourcing in CHP’s to provide specialist support for better outcomes.
- Prioritise dignity, stability and long-term outcomes over short-term wins
Visionwest remains committed to working constructively with government at every level. We stand ready to partner on practical, evidence-based solutions that move people into housing.
For media enquiries, please contact Visionwest Community Trust.
Dale Campbell – Communications Manager – dale.campbell@visionwest.org.nz