Gold coin charity bad habit for homeless

The head of a trust that works with Tauranga’s homeless is welcoming a bylaw banning begging and rough sleeping around shops in Tauranga, Mount Maunganui and Greerton.

Tommy Kapai Wilson from Te Tuinga Whānau Support Services says the bylaw means people are now talking about the problem, and it should force them to do something about it.

He says the need now is for night shelters and addiction services rather than gold coin donations.

"Over 90 percent of street beggars have mental health and addiction problems so why keep giving them money to feed that habit. We need to start giving them empathy, we need to start wrapping that korowai of wraparound services they need to get well and get back to their families," Mr Wilson says.

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