Wellington, Nov 23 NZPA - The Labour Party wants a parliamentary inquiry into homelessness.

Labour Party housing spokeswoman Moana Mackay said she would ask Parliament's social services select committee to look at the issue.

National MPs hold a majority on the committee.

Committee chairwoman, National's Katrina Shanks, said the committee was meeting on Wednesday and members could discuss it then.

"It's not up to me whether I back an inquiry or not, the committee decides," she told NZPA.

"At the end of the day we talk about different inquiries regularly... There are many issues which the committee can address through inquiry, homelessness just being one of the very important ones in New Zealand."

A discussion paper into homelessness released earlier in the year had made a range of recommendations which Ms Mackey said should be looked at.

"I believe that such an inquiry would be valuable in providing government with information to tackle this growing issue -- especially in a time of recession with mortgagee sales at an all time high and the pressure that will put on social housing."

Ms Mackay said homelessness was a drain on health, social, police and justice resources and was a waste of human potential.

People became homeless for a range of reasons including drug and alcohol addictions, unemployment, social isolation, emotional trauma, abuse or mental illness.

Vulnerable people included people fleeing abusive relationships or fresh out of prison. More young people were living on the streets, she said.

NZPA PAR mt nb