George and Barbara’s tent is one of at least 20 pitched on a disused sports ground in Whangārei.
After four years living on the streets of Whangārei, sleeping indoors came as a shock to Jason Poutai.
"I was so used to sleeping outside, I ended up sleeping on the balcony for a couple of days," he said.
"I wasn't used to having a roof over my head. I was trying to ease back into housing, having four walls instead of a tent."
The former truckie said he lost his job after a back injury. Later he lost his home when his house-mates took up meth and he didn't want to join them.
