Homebuilders – Great memories

This year, Homebuilders Family Services celebrates its 30th anniversary. On asking colleagues, Margaret Lewis and Irene De Haan, about what they recalled about being a Homebuilders’ worker back in the day, they began to laugh. They recalled how they trekked into the city and into a big building – riding elevators with babies in prams – to sign the very first Homebuilders Family Services Rodney contract with the Ministry of Social Development.

Prior to that, our agency was involved in a pilot to trial a community initiative that would ensure extra social support to families and upcoming generations of children. To do this, we’ve run the Chrysalis programme, specially designed around play exploration, the rights of children, their needs and their creative worlds. A few other Kiwi Homebuilder schemes are still alive and kicking like us. Others have changed focus and name. Parent Port has been one of our offshoots. And we’ve fostered our collaboration with a myriad of other community groups to network solutions for Rodney families.

From the outset, Homebuilders was keen to act in a preventative way to help you tackle an issue before it tackled you. Our programmes are designed to help you ‘seize the moment’. In other words, to find the energy and intention for change, and the emotional intelligence to pace and breathe through having, perhaps, strong-willed kids, adolescent angst, the grief of loss or the upheaval of separation.

Our Help Desk and Strengthening Families collaborate with other agencies in support of better outcomes – whether it’s sets of school uniforms, a shoulder to cry on or a neutral person you can chat with regarding your worries before they escalate. Whatever it is, we always hope to support the change required for you to step up, claim values and increase individual, family and cultural harmony.

My workmate Terry Healey reflected that at the start we had been asked to take on ‘a befriending role’ by Ministry advisors. “Like a well-trained, well-resourced aunty,” Terry said.

Turns out our varied and eclectic roles of social worker, advocate, counsellor, community change agent, ally and educator have provided a one-stop shop. There is a constant need to respond to more than we are ever contracted for, while regularly updating our training and qualifications to stay fresh and relevant.  

Over the 30 years, Homebuilders has had about 25 members in its support team. Our stable, loyal workforce and numerous generous volunteers and tutors carry a sense of belonging, both to one another and the community. We count it a privilege to gather and extend the laughter, memories and camaraderie.

Thanks to our community for entrusting us with their stories and their brave moves forward. To our funders, board members and supporters: We appreciate every act of kindness and generosity, so we can pass it on to others.

Madhurii Ball
www.homebuildersfs.org