"I was amazed when I learnt how many homeless women there were in Wellington".

"As a Wellington woman, I was very keen to be part of the team at the Trust that looks after so many women in need and also works hard to find sustainable solutions for each of them."

"It is a fabulous cause and one that provides a much-needed service for the community I live in.

"We all have the right to a safe, warm, and happy home. That's exactly where the Trust fits in. It helps women, over 12 weeks, to turn their lives around and access the basics that many of us take for granted," she told Frances Broatch from Welcom.

Walsh was made a Dame Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in 2015 for her work as a sports administrator.

She was the chief operating officer for the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand and the head of the New Zealand organising committee for the 2015 Cricket World Cup.

Walsh has contributed significantly outside the sporting arena too. She:

• serves on the Boards of NZX, ASB Bank, Air New Zealand and is chair of Television New Zealand.
• is a member of the Government's Major Events Investment Panel, chairs the International Development Advisory and Selection Panel for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and serves on the Government's Strategic Risk and Resilience Panel.
• is a trustee of Wellington Regional Stadium and a Victoria University Council Member.

Welcom reported that since the Trust opened in July 2013, almost 100 women have passed through its doors with around half supported into permanent housing.

The experiences the women bring are varied. Some women come with just the plastic bags they carry, without ID and with different levels of physical and mental-health needs. They may not be registered with a GP or other services to support their individual needs and, in most cases, are exhausted from constant moving and insecurity.

Some have overwhelming legal issues and no resources to communicate with relevant government agencies so that they can be accepted in long-term housing. Others have been ‘sleeping rough' or are reliant on others who aren't safe.

The Trust relies on donations and grants to continue its work. Visit Wellington Homeless Women's Trust to offer support or seek more information.

Source

• Stuff
• Wikipedia
• Welcom
• Wellington Homeless Women's Trust
• Image: Radio Sport

Wellington Women's Homeless Trust (WHWT) spokesperson Frances Broatch (pictured above left) said the housing unit opened in July and had been busy ever since. The Trust's accommodation unit can take up to five women at any one time.

The accommodation is for single women who find themselves without a home for some reason. The women can live there for a period of up to three months. During this time they are fully supported and coached to make and achieve some positive goals in their lives.

"We've already had women who have moved in and spent some time with us, who have been encouraged and supported, and have now moved on to new homes and jobs," Ms Broatch said.

"We'd like to thank those in the community who are supporting us, our staff and the amazing women and organisations we work with."

A lot of planning has gone into establishing the accommodation facility, its objectives and how it operates. The response to date shows that this emergency accommodation for single women is very much needed and can make a positive difference to those who stay in it.

The Trust is run by a group of volunteers, three of whom are religious sisters. It has funding for up to two years from the private sector and hopes to continue to receive support from the community to continue with its vision to provide support and accommodation for homeless women who want to improve their situation, in Wellington, New Zealand.

Source: Wellington Homeless Women's Trust press release

Image: Wellington Homeless Women's Trust

Five of the rooms will be used by women who need accommodation and one room will be put aside for the use of the House Manager (whom the Trust is in the process of recruiting), to carry out her duties.

The accommodation will be communal living in a women-only space which offers support for them to adjust to the differing situations they are facing which have caused them to be homeless. The women will also be offered help to access other available services which includes support to gain more permanent housing and to meet some of their own personal needs.

Figures show acute homelessness - people living on the streets - rose sharply in Wellington last year, with support agencies blaming a lack of cheap permanent accommodation.

Mike Leon, who is a member of the Wellington Homeless Women's Trust, said homeless men could find a bed at the Wellington night shelter but there were few options for women.

"Prior to this the only realistic option was the Wellington women's boarding house. They have two beds (for emergency accommodation) and they are usually full."

Mr Leon also runs the men's shelter and said women were sometimes dropped off there by police or health workers.

The trust, which is chaired by Rongotai Labour MP Annette King, raised $200,000, mostly through religious organisation, to run the home for two years.

Donations to the trust can be made to Sister Marcellin Wilson ,1 5 Guilford Terrace, Thorndon Wellington, who is the treasurer of the Trust.

Source

• Wellington Homeless Women's
• Stuff.co.nz
• Welcom
• Image: Stuff.co.nz

Sister Marcellin said she first became aware of the need in 2010 when she received a call from the Wellington Central Police Station requesting accommodation for two women, 20 and 24, who had been evicted from their home.

She said the police officer who called had made a considerable effort to find somewhere for the women to stay but had been unsuccessful.The police officer told Marcellin that other people were telling her that efforts to find emergency accommodation would fail and it was well known that there was only one residence in Wellington and it was overflowing.

As a result of this phone call Marcellin called together representatives of all the Women's Religious Orders in Welllington. At this meeting all the sisters supported the proposal to investigate the need for an emergency accommodation facility.

A committee was formed to investigate the situation. At the end of the investigation it was agreed to proceed with the task of 'providing a suitable residence for emergency accommodation for homeless women in Wellington' and a Charitable trust was established

The Trust received a number of donations and has the promise of more. It is now pursuing the acquisition of a suitable house at a peppercorn rental if possible.

In an interview in 2010 Mt Victoria Wellington Women's Boarding House manager Carol Ronayne said about 10 women slept rough around Wellington each night during summer.

Source

• Sister Marcellin Wilson
• Image: Unity Centre Glasgow