The announcement  by the New Zealand Minister of Justice that police will be given new powers to “move on” not only those displaying disorderly behaviours but also beggars and street homeless people, has sent a deep chill and a quake high on the Richter Scale right across our country. I implore the Government to step back, continue to engage with our agencies who work with and have relationships with street homeless men and women, and reconsider the announced approach and amendment to legislation. It is flawed and will not offer the solution we as a country yearn for.
While I do support the decision to take stronger action against people who are displaying threatening and intimidating behaviour, to extend these powers to target beggars and rough sleepers, is a miscarriage of justice, violating fairness and moral rights. It is contrary to compassion and demonstrates a profound lack of understanding of the lives and circumstances of beggars , street homeless people and those suffering the impact of severe trauma, and rides over inherent human dignity. The first act of any Government and its agaencies must be to provide care and respect for these people. The decision announced today runs the risk of punishing vulnerability and historical trauma. “Moving on” the homeless or mentally ill, should only be done, after the cause is addressed and support given. For most of these people this is trauma informed physical and mental health care and a house.
In making the announcement to take this punitive action, the Minister of Justice has “ipso facto” committed himself and his government to first provide appropriate assistance for every person begging or sleeping rough, before any “move on” action is considered. Not to do so is not justice, and not to do so, the Minister of Justice would be abrogating his responsibility to uphold justice for all in our country .
If a person is on the street because:
*there is no affordable housing,
*appropriate mental health services are not provided,
*addiction treatment is unavailable,
*income support is inadequate,
-then removal without remedy is an act to shift responsibility away from society where it should be. This becomes structural injustice.
Many agencies have demonstrated that we do have a solution to this “wicked” problem. It just has to be funded. Go no further than “Housing First”, Auckland, a model that has operated for the past eight years , providing housing with necessary wrap around support services to over 4000 people. It is successful. My plea is to resource it fully throughout the country to do the job with the necessary support agencies, not the police or prison system to attempt to do the job, and fail.
Chris Farrelly KNZM, former Auckland City Missioner. Originally published on LinkedIn