Auckland City Mission opens centre for homeless women

Thursday, 13 February 2020

Homeless women now have a safe place to stay in Auckland.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern opened the Auckland City Mission's new centre for homeless women on Thursday. 

'We know from the survey work that has been done that we have a staggering homelessness problem,' Ardern said.

'Homelessness isn't just rough sleepers. It's anybody who doesn't have a place to call home.'

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The mission has been working with the Government to open the Te Whare Hinatore facility.

The new facility would provide a safe haven and services for vulnerable women for up to 12 weeks and help them into more permanent accommodation.

The property contained 15 self-contained units and would be able to provide shelter for 60 people a year.

'For wahine and those identifying as wahine experiencing homelessness, their risk of facing violence and dangerous situations is overwhelmingly high,' Auckland City Mission general manager of social services Helen Robinson said.

'With the creation of Te Whare Hīnātore, we are claiming a safe space.

'Te Whare Hīnātore will be delivered through a trauma-informed, kaupapa Māori approach. The mission has adopted this combined approach as we see this as the most effective way to respond to the needs of those we are supporting.'

Robinson said Te Whare Hinatore grew out of a successful pilot programme which the Auckland City Mission ran in 2018.

Auckland mayor Phil Goff welcomed the opening of Auckland City Mission's new transitional accommodation facility for women.

'It's critically important that we provide stability and security, as well as housing, for homeless women who are rough sleeping at a high risk to their safety and wellbeing,' he said.

'An important part of the mission's philosophy is improving people's overall wellness and helping them deal with the problems that lead to homelessness, as well as providing them with a place to live, and Te Whare Hīnātore will help achieve these goals.'

The prime minister also announced $300 million in new funding to fight homelessness.

The new package included $175 million for 1000 new transitional housing placements to deal with the country's homeless crisis.