Almost all rough sleepers in central Hamilton - 78 out of 80 - have been taken off the streets.

The People's Project, launched in 2014 to eliminate homelessness in the city, can chalk up that success. However, rising house prices will prevent the organisation from winding up as planned this year, as more and more find themselves without a roof over their heads, at least temporarily.

People's Project leader Julie Nelson said the transitionally homeless are an emerging issue for the city. In two years, the People's Project has assisted and housed over 800 individuals and families.

The priority for the People's Project now is to continue working with the small number of chronic homeless who have emerged since their initial head count while preventing more individuals and families from the joining them on the streets.

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"What we know is that rough sleepers make up only 5 percent of Hamilton's homeless population," Nelson said.

"The majority of homeless people, around 80 percent, find themselves transitionally homeless or without a home for a short period of time. It's this group, sadly dominated by families, that is growing and for many, it's their first experience of needing social services.

"We know homelessness is a complex issue, but we also know how to solve it.

"Our goal is to work at both ends of the spectrum, from prevention to intervention, before things become desperate. This project has shown what can be achieved when a city works together.

"Two years on, we are thrilled that more people will be celebrating Christmas in their own homes."

Nelson said a collaborative response can change systems and drive results.

The People's Project adapted the Housing First model, begun in California in the late 1980s, for the New Zealand context, coordinating services from a central office in Garden Place.

Nelson said it's not a drop-in centre, but a central hub where the different agencies involved in the People's Project can work together.

Public safety concerns inspired the creation of New Zealand's first large scale Housing First initiative, The People's Project, and the ambitious goal that there would be no one living on the streets or sleeping rough in Hamilton by the end of 2016.

The People's Project is a community collaboration that includes Hamilton City Council; New Zealand Police; Ministry of Social Development; Child, Youth and Family; Housing New Zealand; Department of Corrections; Waikato District Health Board; Midlands Health; Hamilton Central Business Association; Te Puni Kōkiri; and Wise Group.

The team's focus has been to quickly move vulnerable people into appropriate housing and immediately provide access to the services they need to address the issues that led to their homelessness.

"When people have a home and access to the help they need, life changes for people. Tenancies are sustained and two years on, we're seeing people moving into employment," Nelson said.

Sustaining tenancies is an increasing focus for The People's Project team and she said the statistics in Hamilton speak for themselves.

Ninety-four percent of those housed by The People's Project remain in their homes a year or two down the track.