Homeless Kiwis 'sent back to NZ'

Australian charities are paying to fly homeless Kiwis back to New Zealand in a bid to stop begging on Melbourne's streets, the Sun Herald reports.

Twelve New Zealanders have been flown home with the help of Travellers Aid in the past three months at a cost of almost $3900.

Travellers Aid chief executive officer Jodie Willmer told Melbourne's Herald Sun it was cheaper to fly them home than to put them up in a semi-permanent arrangement at a hotel.

"We can't, as a society, have people stranded in no-man's land without support," Ms Willmer said.

The Salvation Army says begging has become an alarming problem, with police figures revealing 296 people were charged last financial year, almost double the number in four years.

Last financial year, 14 Kiwis were repatriated and five other people returned to South Pacific island nations.