Being long-term homeless is not a choice that anyone makes, social policy campaigners say.
Wellington mayor Celia Wade-Brown settling in for the night to raise funds and awareness for the nation's homeless. Photo: RNZ / Shannon Gillies
This country's homelessness rate is estimated to be one in every 120 people.
Wellington mayor Celia Wade-Brown said homelessness could happen to anyone, not just men sleeping rough.
She said women and children were also finding themselves in that situation and people arrived to the predicament in a variety of ways.
"There are people with addictions and problems but there are also people who have left their flats because they're scared of domestic violence."
New Zealand Statistics defines homelessness as people living without shelter, people in temporary accommodation, people sharing accommodation and people in uninhabitable housing.
Last night, a group including Ms Wade-Brown, Salvation Army representatives and members of the public held a 14-hour sleep-in across Invercargill, Wellington, Palmerston North and Auckland to raise funds to help New Zealand's homeless, and to raise awareness about the existence of New Zealand's homeless.
The event was timed to coincide with World Homeless Day.
Salvation Army Porirua Unit volunteer Alan Huntley enjoys a bite to eat during the fundraiser. Photo: RNZ / Shannon Gillies
Fundraiser participants included a mayor, Salvation Army representatives, and members of the public, including some who were homeless. Photo: RNZ / Shannon Gillies
Not all homeless sleeping rough
Ms Wade-Brown said the nation's homeless faced a variety of stereotypes.
While there is a perception that the homeless only include those sleeping rough, it has been estimated that 80 percent of people who are homeless might instead be sleeping in a car, in a garage, three families to a flat, or just stuck in sub-standard accommodation.
"It's not as simple as counting the number of people sleeping under motorway bridges or the town belt."
In Auckland, Salvation Army Manukau and Auckland University of Technology University communication students launched a Trade Me auction called 'Tent For Any Tenant'.
The listing featured a tent being sold as a family home.
It was done in a bid to show support for the fight against family homelessness, and the view that many New Zealanders hold about such circumstances being a result of individual choices.
Rent in Auckland is increasing 10 percent faster than incomes, and house evictions are on the rise, which the event's organisers say initiates a cycle of low income families and individuals living in vehicles, tents and other unsuitable conditions.
Salvation Army Manukau Community Ministries director Pam Hughes said desperately finding accommodation for families has now become a constant.
Charities used to pick up pieces - Salvation Army
Her colleague, Salvation Army lieutenant colonel Ian Hutson, said New Zealand's homeless were marginalised.
Despite that, he said councils and the Government were working on policy concerning the homeless, and he was pleased that the spotlight and media attention at the moment was on housing in general.
"We have the bigger picture at the moment where we're hearing about the lack of housing or affordable housing."
But he said he believed charities were used to pick up the pieces after the implementation of policy and that central and local government needed to take more ownership of the issue of homelessness.
"The hard part for government - it's not just one thing that's causing it. It's a mixture of things. We've heard a lot about income equality. I think that's a part of it."
Ms Wade-Brown said the issues surrounding homelessness were complex.
She said poverty and employment needed to be considered along with having suitable support structures in place for people leaving hospitals and prisons.
She added that one of the most important things that the Government and councils could do was increase housing.
"What we need to do is create more modest, affordable, still warm and dry housing."
She said New Zealanders needed to be concerned about the homeless.
"I think cities and countries are defined by how well they actually take care of (their) most vulnerable people.
"I certainly grew up in a council flat in London that was certainly warm and dry, if somewhat sub-standard to our revamped council housing, but it's also about what kind of a city do you want to live in?
"A more equal society is a happier society."