She says she is particularly proud of their new relationship with Arohata Prison, which is now a referrer to the Trust.

Wilson says some of the women have made big efforts to address the issues that have held them back - such as drugs and alcohol dependence, health problems and dealing with things that have happened in the past.

One woman who had gang connections, didn't see her child and had nowhere to live, spent the three months in the Trust's House.

While there she got lots of counselling, and sorted out her entitlements and health and workied out what she wanted for the future.

The Trust found her some private accommodation close to her child and two weeks after she left us, she had found herself a job.

Since then she has stayed away from the gang and is looking after herself well.

Source

• Supplied: Wellington Homeless Women's Trust
• Image: newswire
  

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