The homeless camp at The Oval in central Dunedin. Photo: RNZ / Tess Brunton
Conditions at a Dunedin homeless camp where a fire tore through tents are unsafe, the Ministry of Social Development says.
Paramedics treated one person with minor injuries after the blaze broke out at The Oval near Ardmore Drive on Friday, but Dunedin mayor Jules Radich said it was lucky no-one was seriously injured or killed.
Ministry of Social Development's southern regional director Sue Rissman said they were very concerned about the fire.
"These are clearly not safe or healthy conditions to live in," she said.
She urged anyone sleeping rough to contact ministry staff for support, but noted people had the right to choose whether they asked for help.
"Emergency housing is a last resort. If someone who applies is eligible for a different and more suitable type of support, we will provide that instead," she said.
"If they have another housing option available, we expect them to take it."
Most people who applied for emergency housing received some form of support like a supplement, grants, or a place with a transitional housing provider, she said.
She said the ministry was regularly speaking to the council and other government agencies about the Dunedin homeless camp.
The fire that broke out at the camp. Photo: Supplied
On Friday, Radich called for government funding to help tackle homelessness in the city.
"Winter is coming and with it the cold temperatures that will only make a bad situation worse for our homeless community," he said.
He had previously proposed using the vacant Aaron Lodge site - owned by Kāinga Ora - as an accommodation hub.
"Regrettably that proposal has not been supported by government agencies," he said.
"In the absence of wrap-around government action, various local social service organisations have been left to do what they can, working alongside the Dunedin City Council and other partners, to offer support for our homeless community.
"The real solution here is government funding for suitable facilities that enable appropriate support services to meet a variety of needs, like we envisaged at Aaron Lodge.
"The local social agencies are ready to step up, but we need a site and we need government support."
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