Killer streets and revolting racism summarise the Auckland City Missioner’s view of the world from a homeless person’s perspective. These streets are where hundreds of vulnerable people live – and die. A disproportionate number are Māori. Homelessness is a terrible situation, says Helen Robinson. It can take up to 30 years off someone’s life. It Read more
The government cannot give a deadline for phasing out emergency motel accommodation, but the Social Development Minister told Checkpoint she would reveal the results of a review and redesign by the end of the year. A “bloody fiasco”, a “failed govt experiment”, and “tantamount to child abuse” – some of the descriptions of the accommodation. Read more
It’s time to farewell Monte Cecilia’s outgoing CEO Bernie Smith. Smith told CathNew he is leaving on Wednesday. The Catholic housing trust has been flooded with messages since Smith announced his resignation last month. It’s clear he’ll be missed. Big time. Smith is modest about his involvement with the Trust. “Empowering the disempowered, housing the Read more
The rainbow community faces homelessness at a significantly higher rate than other New Zealanders, new research shows. The study explored the relationship between Takatāpui/LGBTIQ+ and homelessness, and was carried out by researcher Dr Brodie Fraser. Earlier research from Fraser examined the experiences of eight people from the LGBTIQ+ community who had been homeless. There was Read more
Churches across the US are tackling the big question of how to address homelessness in their communities with a small solution: tiny homes. On vacant plots near their parking lots and steepled sanctuaries, congregations are building everything from fixed and fully contained micro homes to petite, moveable cabins and several other styles of small-footprint dwellings Read more
Government plans to sell public and state house land to private developers risks making the outlook for tens of thousands of New Zealand families worse, says Monte Cecilia Housing Trust CEO Bernie Smith. It’s been dubbed the sale of the century: in Auckland, 230ha to 270ha of public or state land is quietly being sold Read more
Support for struggling families, our homeless whanau and those living in poverty has not been up to the task for decades says Bernie Smith, CEO of Auckland’s Catholic Monte Cecilia Housing Trust. He is adamant. We might want to blame COVID and the war in Ukraine for our economic woes, he says. But everyone (except Read more
A housing project aimed at helping people living in emergency accommodation move into stable housing has started construction in Nelson. The Cabins for Community project would see eight single-room cabins placed at 236 Vanguard Street on land owned by Victory Community Anglican Church. Under the direction of the Salvation Army’s Housing First programme, people living Read more
Community support is helping turn a homeless man’s life around. All it took was one man who put out a call and help came from all directions. The former rough sleeper’s name is Richard (pictured with some supporters including Nick Smith – right). Until recently, Richard was living in a tent on the outskirts of Read more
Catholic voluntary organisation St Vincent de Paul (Vinnies) has come up with an innovative housing project that will see seven young Christchurch families at a time into warm, dry, secure and affordable homes. So far 55 per cent of the funds needed to complete the project are already confirmed and a fundraising strategy is in Read more