Two homeless youths on Titirangi-Great North Rd intersection, opposite Bunnings, begging for cash.

Sharon from Te Atatu South

Saw them just today as I was on the way to feed a customer's cats out at Laingholm while they were away, very polite, not aggressive or intimidating at all. Two brothers, a 14 year old and his younger brother. I do not give money to beggars but still wanted to help them - I did not have any cash anyway and said so, but wondered if WINZ would help them, the 14-year-old said no they wouldn't because they have no address. And they weren't scruffy, so either they are NOT homeless or they have been kicked out of home fairly recently, I don't know. So anyway when I got home I told Kirsteen about them, she said to ring the police and give a description, age, what they were wearing etc, so I did, as this is the best way to help them, and as the woman who took my call said, it's not safe for them on the streets, and that they would get some officers out to the two boys to see what's going on, get them home or get Oranga Tamariki involved if necessary, etc.....I said I think they are still there, and that I had not seen them in the area long, the one I spoke to said he'd got moved on from Pak N Save for obstruction in a public place, I think I remember him standing just by the road entrance to the Alderman Pak N Save carpark, holding a sign asking for $18.....sigh. =( Heh. =P I hope they get all the help they need, and soon. Because heaven knows anything's better than being on the streets - I hope they get a really good foster home, and into school. That'd be best.