Homelessness and COVID-19 in New Zealand: Challenges, emergency responses, and implications for disaster risk reduction

People experiencing homelessness have traditionally received limited attention in disaster research and disaster risk reduction policy. The COVID-19 pandemic has shed light on the vulnerable conditions of urban homelessness during emergency with unprecedented response efforts. Focusing on Aotearoa New Zealand, this research ana-lyses homeless people's experiences of the COVID-19 and examines the policies and actions developed by gov-ernment agencies and local organisations. The study highlights that while the homeless did not perceive the virus as a threat the COVID-19 framework with border closures and lockdowns had direct impacts on their livelihoods. The emergency policies focused mainly on homeless who are rough sleepers with a strong emphasis on emer-gency shelters. The study finds that while effective in temporally housing the homeless, the emergency shelters were often inappropriate to cater for homeless needs and lacked long-term views to transit towards sustainable solutions to homelessness. We also point out issues linked to coordination across agencies, leadership and re-sources needed for both effective emergency management and disaster risk reduction.

Automated summary

This research focuses on the experiences of homeless people in New Zealand during COVID-19 and examines the policies and actions taken by government agencies and local organizations. The study finds that while the virus was not perceived as a threat by the homeless, the COVID-19 framework had direct impacts on their livelihoods. Emergency policies mainly targeted rough sleepers with temporary shelters, but these shelters were often inadequate and lacked long-term solutions to homelessness. Issues related to coordination, leadership, and resources for effective emergency management and disaster risk reduction were also identified.