Hamilton vagrants anti-social: claim (2)
Victoria Street businesses and customers are concerned about homeless Hamiltonians
Hamilton’s homeless are in the spotlight as the council and police respond to complaints about abusive behaviour in the central city.
Waikato Independent asked people in the area what they thought.
Jason Scott, Co-owner of Scott’s Epicurean
“Only issue is with customers feeling unsafe getting out of their cars also the female staff early in the morning… Move them to the Base… Department of Health should run a bus once a day.”
Steve Williams, Hamilton Painter and Decorator
“Why should the homeless people be picked on? …Why should we have to remove all of our tables and chairs just to get rid of a few people – it’s just hiding the problem really not removing it. It’s just something they need to deal with – it’s just life in general. I don’t see them setting fires to doorways or smoking P – They’re just people who have got nowhere to live and they just amble around.”
Brenda Wereta, Obsession Hairdressing Owner
“Where have they all come from? They never used to be here? …They lie down outside our shop window, and take a nap.”
Brooke Seeney, Victoria St Employee
“It’s one of those problems, they’re always going to be there, if you move them they’re just going to go somewhere else… If they’re just going to get them onto a benefit and into a house it would piss me off but if they’re actually going to rehabilitate them to get them a job…then I would support that fully.”
Aaron Cadman, Unemployed
“The way I see it is that if you’re going to turn and make someone leave the foot path… it doesn’t work because, ya know, [they’ve] travelled that path for many years.”
