‘Shine a Light’ on how WHWT is breaking the cycle of homelessness
Breaking the cycle of homelessness with transitional housing services and communal living.
How can we break the cycle of homelessness? It is a multifaceted issue where emphasis is commonly placed on generating more housing options.
While the lack of housing is a prominent issue in Aotearoa New Zealand, providing more homes is a band-aid solution to a growing homeless population.
Through our whare model, we’ve found homelessness presented in women is tackled most effectively when the heart of their challenges is addressed in a supportive environment before transitioning into independent housing.
Due to the fact a dispropriate number of women in our care are wāhine Māori, our Trust has found women in our care benefit directly from collectivist housing, care that establishes a sense of home and is underpinned by tino rangatiratanga (decision-making around independence, sovereignty and self-determination).
General Manager, Hiria Tareha says, “We operate as one big family. We create a safe and supportive environment that fosters trust for homeless women from all walks of life.”
“Staying at Te Whare Nukunoa is a crucial step in our women’s journeys to enter independent housing. During this time, our experienced staff link wāhine up with healthcare, rehabilitation programmes, job opportunities and help them feel like part of a community.”
Four ways the Wellington Homeless Women’s Trust (WHWT) and Te Whare Nukunoa are getting it right:
WHWT provides an intensive and restorative response of services that is relational and long-lasting, rather than a punitive approach which can lead to ongoing negative behaviours.
1. Around-the-clock support by registered and qualified staff
24/7 support by our staff promotes stability and encourages stronger rapport between staff and our wāhine.
Our team consists of senior social workers, an Alcohol and Other Drugs (AOD) counsellor, a registered nurse, a psychologist, administration and support staff.
Dedicated staff offer the opportunity for wāhine to establish meaningful relationships, and empower them to speak out in a safe environment when things are not going so well.
Our staff are on-site to address acute situations before disruptive behaviour seriously impacts others around them, by providing faster support through risk management and crisis intervention procedures. We also maintain regular check-ins for those who are high-risk and may need more support than others.
2. Building a sense of belonging in a whare model
We have a 14-bedroom house with onsite support from three social workers during the day and two support workers for evening shifts outside of business hours. A dedicated team allows for focused support for our wāhine during after-hours and over the weekend periods.
Te Whare Nukunoa offers a communal style of living that affords the time and space for wāhine to work towards a healthier and more stable lifestyle. All tenants are encouraged to participate in activities and contribute towards maintaining a homely environment.
3. Holistic support through our W.A.L.K. programme
General Manager, Hiria Tareha says, “The primary function of our W.A.L.K. programme is to build confidence, trust and the ability to believe in oneself. We aspire to help our women to achieve their physical, cultural, spiritual, mental health and aspirational goals.”
Within this programme, WHWT emphasises the education of everyday life skills, whether that is waking up at the same time every day, keeping key appointments, doctor visits, eating healthy, budgeting, learning new skills and getting regular exercise.
“We get wāhine involved with road trips to other parts of the country, job training, community events, stadium events, movies and outdoor activities,” says General Manager, Hiria Tareha.
WHWT focuses on breaking social barriers for women who have struggled in the past, showing them that they do belong and that they have the power to change their situations.
4. Breaking the cycle of homelessness
“Throughout and after our programme, we advocate for our women and connect them with key services to help get them back on their feet and break the cycle of homelessness. Our services go far beyond their time at our whare,” says General Manager, Hiria Tareha.
We aim to support wāhine on their journey to recovery so they can build self-confidence, self-esteem and independence. We believe this will empower them to care for themselves and contribute positively to the lives of their children, family and community.
Providing coordinated care within a safe and communal environment means long-term outcomes for wāhine accessing them, and less stress on the wider community or other social services.
Through our services, we can confidently state there has been a substantial reduction in demand for government resources. By easing pressure on public healthcare, hospitals, and the justice system from court appearances to prison and police call-outs, others in need can more easily access these key resources.
By donating to the WHWT, you can contribute to a holistic transitional housing environment that is successful in securing women permanent housing while also addressing their health and well-being.
For more information about how you can support our mission, visit: www.whwt.org.nz/make-a-donation
Find out more about WHWT: https://www.whwt.org.nz/about
#MakeItVisable #ShineALight #Wāhine #Homelessness #Aotearoa
