News and media

Researchers Carole McMinn (The People’s Project) and Brodie Fraser, Clare Aspinall, Jenny Ombler and Dr Nevil Pierse (University of Otago) recently presented findings of the Ending Homelessness in New Zealand research programme to members of the New Zealand centre for Sustainable Cities.

The announcement today by government that it is investing an additional $300M into a comprehensive cross-agency package to tackle homelessness is a positive move in the right direction.

As we come to the end of the year, we look back at the highlights and what has been achieved for the people we are here to serve. This year Housing First has continued to change communities for the better in Hamilton and Tauranga because we believe everyone must have a home to live in and everyone has the right to live their best life.

Over the past few years we have been reminded of the fact the people we work with die much younger, with 16 of our clients passing away, predominantly from chronic illness due to long-term unmet health needs and unmanaged health issues.

The Bay of Plenty Times interviewed Darren recently. Darren is a client of The People’s Project who uses food banks because after he pays rent, utilities and debts, he has about $25 left to live on. We think everyone would agree that this just isn’t right, but unfortunately it is not unusual for the people we work with.