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Not so long ago, Dunedin’s homeless were regarded as an idiosyncrasy, known by name to students, and looked out for. Now they are becoming too numerous to care about – or so it seems. People don’t stop to speak with the homeless. Instead of an idiosyncrasy, their ubiquity is turning them into an anonymous urban backdrop.

The growing gap between rich and poor is most starkly seen in the growing number of homeless people in towns around New Zealand.

Together with a few other supporters of Dunedin’s Night Shelter, I recently slept under the Octagon Gazebo. For me the experience was a positive one. For many who sleep rough, it is not.

The members of the Night Shelter Trust I joined in the Octagon are fundraising. The Lees Street property the Trust currently rents is Dunedin’s only night shelter, and they want to buy it to ensure the sustainability of the service they provide to our community.

The Dunedin Night Shelter provides emergency accommodation for those who find themselves out in the cold at short notice. Sometimes this can be triggered by a domestic situation, or a mental health episode, or release from prison, or it can simply be a bridge between two rental situations for those on tight budgets.

The Shelter provides up to three nights’ accommodation, no more. It fills an important niche. Unfortunately, demand for their services is growing apace. I wish them well in their fundraising efforts, and encourage those with means to support them. Visit dunedinnightshelter.co.nz.

The wider issue of homelessness resembles a constant, sad and inevitable march. As the cost of living rises and incomes do not, there is a social cost. Oftentimes, mental health issues and the inaccessibility of affordable medical care play a part, too.

Published research tells us that tackling inequalities leads to better societal outcomes. This must certainly be true for the homeless.