When they locate someone, they have care packages, made up by members of the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints in Red Beach, to give out, as well as food and an invitation to the next Love Soup free meal.
The homeless forum is an offshoot of the Love Soup charitable organisation that recently began serving free community meals at Whangaparaoa Hall (HM July 6). The forum began because food and shelter (along with clean water) are among the most fundamental of things to provide for people, and for some in our community, these needs are not being met.
Last week volunteers began by going out and looking for people who are sleeping rough, as making contact with them to find out what they need is the group’s first priority.
So far two evening excursions turned up a handful of homeless people; most of them are sleeping in their cars and some have been doing so for months. At the same time the group is hearing of many others sleeping rough, squatting or living in garages.
Love Soup director Julie King says it’s important to connect with homeless people because every person’s situation is unique. The group will also liaise and work with other organisations, such as Citizens Advice Bureau, Police, Te Herenga Waka o Orewa marae, Hibiscus Coast Youth Centre, churches and Hibiscus Coast Community House.
If you’d like to be part of this initiative, contact Julie King, 022 074 9526 or email lovesoupnz@gmail.com
Nem’s story
Nem Stevens is a long time Coast resident who recently found another home for her family, in Whangaparaoa, after her flat was sold. However, it was touch and go for Nem, her elderly father and the four children who still live at home, aged between six and 10 years.
“We were renting in Hatfields Beach and hadn’t had a useable stove top or oven in three months. The kitchen light didn’t work for five months and the fitting fell apart. I didn’t sleep in my room because the roof leaked, so I slept in the lounge on the couch. It was cold, damp and mouldy. My lease was up and the landlords said they were selling.
We had two months to find somewhere. My sister offered me her shipping container in Matamata to move into if we needed to – I wouldn’t live in the car, not with my dad who is very unwell.
My dad and I worked out what we could afford. I am a single mum, and get an allowance from WINZ including for caring for my 80-year-old father. We looked all over the Coast; my kids love their school and I wanted them to stay there. We got offered everything from a place in Orewa that was $300 a week, but only available for three months, to places up to $820 per week. Landlords didn’t want a beneficiary, and other potential tenants offer more rent. Kim Hudson from LJ Hooker worked hard to find us our home – we pay $600 a week. Rent takes three quarters of my income but we’re so pleased to have a roof over our heads and a functional kitchen!
This all began when my marriage broke up, leaving me in debt so I ultimately lost our house. We live day to day but I always feel there are people worse off. I’m a good baker, and always make sure the children have breakfast. Sometimes I don’t eat for a few days so the children have food. There’s no light at the end of the tunnel yet, but all you can do is keep on doing what you can.”
Rose’s story
Rose Fisher and her family loved living on the Coast, where she says her children were safe to play in the local playground. The family left a few weeks ago, unable to afford the rising rents. She started a blog and the A Home for Everyone – action to end the NZ housing crisis facebook page.
“The rent for our house in Gulf Harbour kept going up and up. Five years ago, when we moved in, it was $400 per week and it will now be about $600 per week. We have five children, and my husband works part-time. I’m disabled, so he is also my carer.
We stuck out the rent increases as long as we could because it was such a good community for the kids and we had friends. We got a 90-day notice to vacate and no reason was given. We looked for anything at all on the Coast; there was only one property that we could afford and it was minute.
We looked all over Auckland and applied for house after house and got declined. Even if it was a damp, mouldy dump there would be 10 other people wanting it.
Just five years ago it was first in, first served. Now we’re competing against a lot of others and not getting anything because we’ve got kids.
We started to worry about what we could do if we didn’t find anywhere. We could have moved in with friends, but it would have been very cramped and our in-laws offered their shed in Hamilton.
We finally found a house in West Auckland. We’re lucky we found it, but shocked to find that our area and community that we love so much, is now utterly beyond affordability. I took part in the Park up Mangere recently in protest, with two of my kids. Everyone deserves a safe, healthy, affordable home.”
