Attitude to the homeless should change

Bachelor of Science and Technology student Zara Carr  thinks  the council should be doing more to tackle the problem of homelessness in the city.

Carr  says one of the biggest concerns about the homeless is that they are invading city streets because they have nowhere else to go.

“They are a very proud people who may find it embarrassing to visit missions or ask for help.”

This meant the homeless would stay out on the street and the problem  continue, she said.

Carr  would like to see  employment opportunities offered to the homeless, even something as simple as having them collect trash.

“I am pretty sure that if you give them the opportunity for a job that they will take it,” she said.  She also believes many empty properties  around the city would make good refuges for the homeless and could be converted into spaces where the homeless could go. They could be manned by volunteers who would help with job opportunities in the city.

“It is almost as if Hamilton has given up on the homeless.”

Carr believes Hamilton City Council should consider implementing a similar system to what has been started in Auckland.  There  they  collect donations from supermarkets and individuals. People are able to take what they need and go.

The 21-year-old is also concerned with the state of her street .

“Our street seems to be completely oblivious to the council. In town they have cleaners but here there are leaves everywhere and they are not cleaned up and slippery. It is especially slippery on the hill which goes up to the Claudelands Bridge.” Carr says has  slipped several times.

The amount of graffiti on and around the Claudelands Bridge is also worrying. Carr does not think the council can do much about this issue. “They will just keep doing it again and again because it’s like sticking it to the man.”  She is concerned because much of the graffiti is gang related and it is a bit scary knowing that there are gangs hanging around the area.