Thread by @We3forDemocracy

New $37 million Manukau bus station could be used as homeless shelter on winter nights.

Something needs to be done about the homeless, but encouraging them (many of whom have drug and alcohol problems) to sleep in or hang around transport hubs is nuts.

stuff.co.nz/auckland/local…

I agree that there needs to be a solution to deal with the homeless sleeping on the street - but IMO housing them in or near public transport encourages them to loiter there - which will inevitably make many potential users of public transport feel unsafe

NZ has a good social welfare system. The problem with people who actually sleep on the streets is due to a combination of factors:
1. Lack of affordable housing
2. Addiction, crime, personality and mental health problems that make some people undesirable and/or dangerous to house

It is the group that have addiction, criminal and/or violent/aggressive and/or chronic difficult to cope with personality or mental health issues that are more likely to sleep on the street; because they are so problematic.

They do not belong in transportation centers.

I understand some homeless sleeping in the streets are afraid of violence and theft by other homeless people, (even in shelters)

If the homeless feel justifiably afraid of fellow homeless, you can be absolutely certain that ordinary members of the public will be afraid of them.

The homeless lot that have intolerable chronic addictions, chronic criminality; & personality & chronic mental health issues that ordinary people can’t abide are a hugely difficult problem because:
1 Many are nervous of each other, esp in shelters; and
2 They are afraid of police

Its not just the homeless sleeping in the streets etc that are a problem in Auckland.

Panhandling/begging is an increasingly common phenomenon, especially on & around Queen St (a major transport and visitor hub).

Are these people legal residents?
Is there drug dealing going on?