Left Behind—Why Boomtown New Zealand Has a Homelessness Crisis

Left Behind—Why Boomtown New Zealand Has a Homelessness Crisis
A woman, known only as Margaret and claiming to be homeless, holds a sign as she begs for money on a main street in central Wellington, New Zealand, May 15, 2018. REUTERS/Jonathan Barrett/File Photo
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WELLINGTON—New Zealand’s dairy-fuelled economy has for several years been the envy of the rich world, yet despite the rise in prosperity tens of thousands of residents are sleeping in cars, shop entrances and alleyways.

The emerging crisis has created a milestone that New Zealanders won’t be proud of: the highest homelessness rate among the 35 high-income OECD countries.