Efforts to secure the future of Dunedin's only night shelter have reached crunch point, and University of Otago students are among those striving to save it.
The Dunedin Night Shelter Trust needed to raise nearly $600,000 to buy the two houses it was renting in Lees St.
It had raised about $360,000 so far and needed to raise the remaining $240,000 by October to meet the purchase agreement with the property owner.
Trust chairman David Brown said failure to secure the premises could result in the service having to close.
''That could be on the cards. It certainly makes it a lot more fragile.''
Mr Brown said the property's landlord had been ''very patient'' in waiting for the trust to come up with the money, and had been charging it below the market rate.
''But having to raise the rental cost all the time is a big issue. We had a budget put out recently and, even considering rates, insurance and everything else, the cost of owning the property will still come well under what we're paying in rent.
''We've had to move in the past and that's an act and a-half. Moving people and telling people where we are is a real challenge.''
The trust had been raising money for the past 18-24 months through various fundraising initiatives.
It had put in requests for trust funds to help come up with the rest of the money but was waiting to hear back from firms, Mr Brown said.
Owning the property would not only result in security but also greater potential for the service.
''There have been hit-and-miss things in Dunedin for night shelters; we've been going for 10 years and we want to make sure there's a facility available. We've found even getting operating money is becoming a lot more difficult.
''If we own the property, it enables us to be able to add things which add to the services we offer.
''We hope to add a meeting room, for example, for counselling and various other social.''
Mr Brown said bed nights at the shelter were steady but had spiked a little during the past couple of weeks.
Fundraising would be sought through public donations and a street appeal next month.
One group which has put its hand up to help is the University of Otago Volunteer Centre.
Students were planning a sleepout in the Octagon next month to raise funds for the shelter, and hoped the event would develop into a community-wide event in the future.
Intern Jessie Manning (19), technical adviser for a website launched this week promoting the event, said saving the shelter was crucial for Dunedin.
''We wanted to do something quite ambitious - not just for the shelter but to raise the issue of homelessness in general and some of the conditions that homeless people might face.
''The shelter is one of those things that is so essential and the need for it is growing every year.
''It makes no sense for [the trust] to be renting the building if they can get the money and own the place outright.''
There was space for 200 students to sleep out in the upper half of the Octagon on July 24, but it was hoped the event would become big enough to be housed in Forsyth Barr Stadium in the future.
The sleepout would begin the shelter's annual appeal week.
The idea was inspired by the LifeWise Big Sleepout campaign in Auckland, which had raised nearly $150,000 for homeless people.
