People On The Streets Need Help, Says Concerned Riccarton Business, As City Mission Says Homeless in Most Suburbs

Ep. 2: The NZR speaks to a local business owner who is concerned for teenage girls she says are frequenting the Riccarton downtown at night; the City Missioner Corinne Haines responds to questions.

Georgina* runs her business within walking distance of Westfield Mall and bus exchange and has kept her finger on the pulse.

[Georgina’s real name has been changed]

She says the youth and the homeless are a problem in the area. But “mental health issues” is the pressing issue.

The NZR asked the City Mission whether it knew or believed that “some [of the homeless] were or are former patients of Hilmorton Hospital?” 

“The Mission visits all suburbs and there are homeless people in most suburbs including Riccarton,” responded Missioner Corinne Haines.

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“Shop owners may have concerns.  The Mission Outreach team are happy to talk with Shop owners about how to handle these situations.  The Mission is focused on supporting those on the street and getting them into homes.  We don’t think all homeless people are aggressive, nor are all aggressive people homeless.”

Corinne Haines

Georgina tells The NZR the situation in Riccarton has been “getting worse” in the past two years and regards it as unsafe for the teenage girls who frequent it at night.

She admits teenagers who congregate in the area have disturbed her business and be physically aggressive but her concern for the teenage girls present has driven her to call in the Police.

Georgina describes “nasty” and aggressive people frequenting the area and doesn’t want the girls to be involved with them “like homeless people. And some of those homeless people have serious mental health problems.”