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Community housing partnership in South Auckland gets more Kiwis into new homes: A Case Study

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The Generator support during COVID-19

The Generator, is an MSD funded initiative that backs Kiwis in hardship who have a business idea (Generites); and is delivered in a partnership between Vaka Tautua and Emerge Aotearoa.

Under COVID-19, the Generator has enabled local Generites to support their community by providing and delivering over 13,000 emergency meals (over 2500 a week) and over 5000 vegie packs to those in need in greater Auckland.

Meal and vegetable packs

The Generator has providing vegetable packs and cooked meals in partnership with;

Generites Kai Sisterz (Caterers) and Peter Lilo (Courier)
Balle Brothers, Hira Bhana family, RC Hari & Sons and Wai Shing Ltd (donating vegetables for the meals and veggie packs)
Auckland Emergency Management and Foundation North (grants)
La Valla ( sub-let the kitchen space at a reduced rate)

Below are video stories of the initiative and the outcomes achieved

The Generator supporting Māori whānau, hapu and iwi to help their local community during COVID-19
MSD requested a 90 sec video about how the Generator is enabling Pasifika helping Pasifika fono through COVID-19. This was translated into 7 languages and shown on Tangata Pasifika last week
The Generator working with the local growers, whānau and community to collect, sort and distribute donated vegetables as 1000 vegetable packs to those in need in Auckland

Feedback

“On behalf of the whanau that received these lovely meals- thank you doesn’t go near enough to expressing how grateful they are. We will never be able to measure the pressure that has been taken off them due to this kai koha but I am sure for some, it comes as a huge relief. Please also thank the Kai sisters for us to- what amazing mahi they do.” Raewyn Allan Tumu Whakarae (Chief Executive Officer) Mahitahi Trust

“We would like to Thank Emerge Aotearoa for their kind donations of Meals and Vegie Packs. Feedback from all our families I have delivered to has been overwhelming, it couldn’t have come at a better time a lot have shared with me.” Jean Areaiiti, Facility Manager, Randwick Park Community House

The feedback from those receiving the meals has been overwhelmingly positive with an average overall rating on a 5-point scale of 4.69.

Comments included;

“My Son doesn't normally eat vegetables, but he ate the meal and it has changed his mind them!”

“Just keep repeating the same menu. I loved it! It was absolutely fantastic.”

“It's been awesome especially the delivery of 30 meals to me then we distribute it to our kaumatua.”

“Food was divine. Definitely give it 5 stars. You guys are doing an amazing job”

“Elderlies were over the moon, ecstatic, impressed, pleased with presentation and taste. Food was still warm. More than enough food. They ate it straightaway. They liked the veges were well cooked and it met their dietary. They would give it 6 stars if there was one. What you guys are doing is great dealing with high volumes and the people’s needs. Everything has been very good. Excellent service.” Feedback from a person who registered two elderly whānau

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Housing First on TVNZ's Breakfast show: 18 May 2020

Housing First client Nukuroa Ngatamariki has appeared on TVNZ’s Breakfast show to share his inspirational story from homelessness to giving back to others.

The segment covered the government announcement that an additional $107.6 million had been allocated in the budget to provide long-term housing for vulnerable people.

In 2015/2016, Nukuroa had been flatting but after facing certain hardships, he was evicted from the home he was living in. “It was the start of my journey,” he said. “It was an obstacle of challenges.”

Discussing his experience, with presenter Jenny-May Clarkson, Nukuroa said, after spending a few years homeless in Christchurch, he was helped into a property by Housing First.

“That first night getting into a bed was absolutely amazing,” he said. “I remember it was really overwhelming.”

He is now in his second year of study towards a social work degree and aims to help other homeless people in the near future.

On the budget announcement, he says; “It’s a great opportunity to give back to those in need of help and having accessibility there for those who do need support is something that should be emphasised more. Reconnecting and building those relationships with our people is truly an investment.”

Watch the video with Nukuroa Ngatamariki HERE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GAO7Q15bgSE&feature=youtu.be

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Emerge Aotearoa Group CE Barbara Disley interview with Radio NZ: 22 April 2020

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12326957

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MEDIA RELEASE

“They’re breathing life back into us, filling our lungs with air”: video case studies show how good, affordable homes give people hope, connection and stability

From life in an airless basement to being able to watch the sunset through a window and enjoy a cup of tea with neighbours – a set of videos released today by community housing providers shows the difference having a good home makes.

Scott Figenshow, the Chief Executive of Community Housing Aotearoa, says the video case studies feature interviews with people who have been helped into permanent, affordable homes by several community housing providers: The Salvation Army (https://www.salvationarmy.org.nz), Haumaru Housing (https://www.haumaruhousing.co.nz), the Housing Foundation (https://www.nzhf.org), and the Monte Cecilia Housing Trust (http://montececilia.org.nz).

The videos tell the stories of:

Alex (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ZiMialQR0Q&feature=youtu.be), who lived in a basement after being diagnosed with brain cancer. The basement had no windows and a piece of cardboard was all that separated his living quarters from the car fumes of the garage.
Joan (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y6CtVoqoIL4&t=4s), whose housing situation became unsettled and frightening after a series of events resulted in changes to her living circumstances.
Mau and David (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Pm0Ff7hJ3g&feature=youtu.be) considered moving to Australia with their young family after having to move from their rental home after a number of years. Getting a mortage in Auckland seemed impossible, until they were offered a pathway into home ownership.
Christine (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wTFy79WgNWI), who moved in with family after having a stroke. When this did not work out, she turned to Haumaru Housing for help.
Rozeena (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yuITXPshH0A&feature=youtu.be), who needed immediate housing support after a fire ravaged the rental property she and her children lived in. After a period in transitional housing, she was helped into a permanent home.

Mr Figenshow says the videos show the transformation possible when people are helped to find somewhere decent to live.

“Having a good home is really a foundation for having a good life, and that’s what we see in these videos. With assistance, people can go from feeling quite despairing about their circumstances to feeling settled, connected to their neighbours, and well-supported.”

Mr Figenshow says the videos bring to life some of the housing pressures observed by Leilani Farha, the UN Special Rapporteur on the right to adequate housing, during her visit to New Zealand in February. Ms Farha described New Zealand’s housing crisis as a human rights crisis, and called on the Government to do much more to solve it (https://www.hrc.co.nz/news/new-zealand-housing-crisis-requires-bold-human-rights-response-says-un-expert/).

“That message really resonated with community housing providers who believe housing is a fundamental human right,” says Mr Figenshow.

“It’s the reason they’re working with individuals, whānau and communities in need. Too many people are living in poor quality, substandard and unaffordable housing because that is what is available.

“We are changing the way we think and talk about housing in New Zealand. Everyone should have a good home so they can thrive. As a country, we all benefit when that happens. Life becomes settled and less stressful, children are able to stay in school and people in their jobs, and families are able to get the social and health services they need.”

He says community housing providers help thousands of New Zealanders into good, affordable homes each year and want to provide even more homes in partnership with government and the private sector.

“Let’s fix this housing mess together.”

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Emerge Aotearoa Group CE Barbara Disley speaks to Health Select Committee about the Mental Health and Wellbeing Bill.

Emerge Aotearoa Group CE Barbara Disley has provided valuable feedback to the Health Select Committee about the Mental Health and Wellbeing Bill.

The objective of the bill is to establish a Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission that will contribute to better mental health and wellbeing outcomes for New Zealanders. It will also improve equity for Māori, Pacific peoples, disabled people, rainbow communities, and other groups that experience poorer mental health and wellbeing outcomes.

This is Emerge Aotearoa’s position;

Emerge Aotearoa Trust fully supports the Mental Health and Wellbeing Bill. Likewise, we strongly support the Commission being an Independent Crown Entity to ensure it has the independence and powers it needs to be successful.
We fully support the Bill's strong requirement to meet Treaty obligations and responses to Māori. This will ensure that members of the Commission must collectively have knowledge, understanding and experience of te ao Māori and whānau centred approaches. Emerge Aotearoa fully supports the requirement across the Commissions’ functions to have particular regard to the experience of and outcomes for Māori and this closely aligns to our strategic pou of Māori succeeding as Māori.
We believe that the role of the Commission could be strengthened by ensuring that addiction is more visible in the Bill. While it is assumed that the term mental health and wellbeing includes addictions this is not always the practice.
The functions of the Commission could be further strengthened by highlighting its requirement to provide leadership and promote best practice. The Commission must be recognised as having a clear role in providing and being part of a distributed sector leadership network with a national and pivotal role at the top. Likewise, the role of the Bill could be strengthened by specifically including that the Commission has a function to assess and review all related policy.
We believe it would be beneficial for the Commission to hold a function in reviewing, assessing and reporting on mental health and addiction services funding and expenditure, including that spend through primary health services. This will ensure that moneys allocated to mental health were in fact spend there.

Emerge Aotearoa supports the requirement of obtaining views from specific groups. Along with those already identified, we think they should specifically include members of the Rainbow communities, the views of people from rural communities (services and access for those who live in more isolated parts of New Zealand) and from refugee and new settler communities.

We see the establishment of a Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission as a positive step in ensuring there is a watchful eye over mental health, addiction and wellbeing policies and services.

For more, visit http://legislation.govt.nz/bill/government/2019/0188/latest/LMS281163.html

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From sleeping rough to a home of his own

https://www.odt.co.nz/star-news/star-christchurch/sleeping-rough-beach-comfortable-home-his-own

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Youth remand solutions in the community

https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/first-up/audio/2018724607/could-more-remand-homes-be-the-answer-to-keep-nz-young-people-out-of-prison

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A great article on Housing First of which Emerge Aotearoa is proud to be a part of

http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/property/117628807/former-homeless-man-amazed-by-new-fridgefreezer?cid=app-android

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Unique approach to addressing hardship in Aotearoa

On Thursday 29 August Emerge Aotearoa and Vaka Tautua launched The Generator with the support of the Ministry of Social Development and Westpac. The Generator is an innovative approach to addressing financial hardship in poorer communities. Click on the link below to view the press release issued by the Hon Carmel Sepuloni who opened the service.

https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/unique-approach-addressing-hardship-aotearoa

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Te Whānau o Uenuku, Rainbow Roopu holds Inaugural Hui

Te Whānau o Uenuku, our Rainbow Roopu held its’ inaugural hui and what a fabulous 2 days it was!

The Roopu is made up of whānau from the Rainbow community and allies. A safe, caring and supportive environment was quickly formed as the group came together and bonded. The overarching themes from the hui were around acknowledgement, support, learning and focusing on the future.

Nic Coom our Director of People and Strategy issued the Roopu with a wero at the beginning of Day 1 to “think big and be aspirational” so that is exactly what we did. We talked a lot about how as an organisation we can influence and be more welcoming and supportive of diversity.

We were fortunate enough to have Alice Anderson who is the Executive Director of Qtopia talk to us about diversity and inclusion. Qtopia provide social support groups for the Rainbow community. They connect people to services and provide wrap around support. They provide a safe space for people to ask questions without judgement. Likewise, they provide training in diversity and inclusion. They work to bring about social change and initiate conversations.

Alice provided us with so many rich and wonderful ways in which we can create an ally environment so that anyone walking into any Emerge Aotearoa space knows we are diverse friendly. Alice’s most important take home message is that if you do nothing else, do just two things: 1. use the correct pronouns when talking to whānau, 2. have gender neutral bathrooms….”tiny changes can be mighty”!

Our CE, Barbara Disley joined us via Zoom and shared with us her reflections during her time on the MH&A Inquiry panel. It was great to be asked what it is that we need to create a safe and diverse friendly workplace for kaimahi and tangata whaiora.

Michelle Dawes, our Learning Advisor based in Wellington shared a presentation on what is means to be and have rainbow allies. A straight ally is a person who supports equal civil rights to LGBTQIA+ or Rainbow people. It’s about being able to help others. If you would like to learn more about allies visit www.straightforequality.org

We kicked off Day 2 hearing from Taine Polkinghorne who is the Human Rights Advisor SOGISC (sexual orientation, gender identity and sex characteristics) with the Human Rights Commission. Taine has developed a paper that will be published in the coming months that provides recommendations around rights pertaining to healthcare, information, work, recognition within the law and discrimination for the LBGTIQA+ community. We will be sure to share this paper with you when it is released but in the meantime our take home message is that building awareness of human rights is not enough, action is required.

Katie McGregor from our Tiakina Service in Christchurch presented a thought-provoking piece on “intersectionality”. She highlighted how things such as race, gender and class influence how you can be seen in society. We talked a lot about privilege and what this means

The Roopu spent time talking about Rainbow competencies and training for Emerge Aotearoa. What would this look like? who would help us provide it? how could it be rolled out? were a few of the questions we posed.

We were thrilled to hear from Nic about the strategic plan for the next 3 years. It is encouraging to see diversity recognised as a strategic priority for Emerge Aotearoa.

It was the most incredible two days. Te Whānau o Uenuku would like to thank Barbara Disley and Nic Coom for their recognition and leadership of the Roopu and would like to say that we accept the challenge of supporting the organisation when it comes to ensuring a safe and diverse friendly environment and culture across Emerge Aotearoa. Finally, we would like to thank Cynthia Spittal for pulling the hui together and making it such a rich and memorable experience for all who attended. From the presenters to the decorating of the room, we felt such manaaki and aroha.

“Diversity is being asked to the party and inclusion is being asked to dance”

Ngā mihi

Te Whānau o Uenuku

In this pic: Te Whānau o Uenuku

Opinion Piece: NZ Herald, 25 June 2019

The Shift Aotearoa Conference 2019

The Shift Aotearoa Conference 2019 was an inspiring opportunity for members of our housing team to take part in discussions around the need for a functioning housing system for NZ and the change required to make it happen. The Conference was hosted by Community Housing Aotearoa and the Building Better Homes, Towns, and Cities.

The name of the conference, The Shift Aotearoa, refers to the change needed to develop a functioning housing system to ensure All New Zealanders are well-housed. To make these changes will require different ways of working – with greater collaboration and genuine partnerships between government, iwi, civil society and business all working towards a shared vision.

Our Group CE Barbara Disley and National Housing Manager, Hope Simonsen presented on day two of the conference. Barbara spoke about housing and mental health and her learning from the Mental Health Enquiry. Hope spoke in her capacity as Auckland Community Housing Providers' Network (ACHPN) Chair and National Housing Manager, Emerge Aotearoa about the mahi of the ACHPN and how they are working towards everyone being able to realise their right to have a home to call their own.

The video Hope shared can be found here: https://www.achpn.net.nz/

EaseUp, a fresh approach to youth alcohol and drug support

On Wednesday 5 June the Health Minister Hon Dr David Clark launched EaseUp, a pilot programme for young people struggling with alcohol and drug issues in the Tāmaki region.

The two-year pilot, which has been self-funded by the Emerge Aotearoa Trust, offers a community-based Alcohol and Other Drugs (AOD) service for young people aged 13-20, which focuses on assertive outreach, early intervention and involving whānau.

The EaseUp pilot programme will operate as a clinician and peer support partnership community service in the Tāmaki district between the hours of 8am and 6pm, Monday to Friday with flexibility to work outside of these hours for pre-planned appointments. Clinicians and peer support specialists (people with their own experience of overcoming AOD challenges who have specialist training) will work with each young person to tailor goals based on their individual needs. Introductions to the service will be received from a range of channels, including self-referral, schools, marae, community policing, youth justice, Oranga Tamariki, church leaders and sports coaches.

Whānau will be at the heart of each person’s support, with rangatahi being asked to define what whānau means to them. This will give each young person a chance to build support in a safe and meaningful way.

Emerge Aotearoa would like to thank Minister Clark and Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei for their support in launching this service.

Media links to the EaseUp launch

https://teaomaori.news/new-rangatahi-addiction-pilot-programme-launched?_ga=2.242022466.1138361209.1559849405-1631575892.1559849405

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/391444/tamaki-youth-tackle-drug-and-alcohol-abuse-in-local-community

https://www.nzdoctor.co.nz/article/news/new-service-launched-help-tamaki-youth-drug-and-alcohol-problems

Auckland Community Housing Providers Network website now live

The Auckland Community Housing Providers Network (ACHPN) brings together 21 community housing organisations operating across Tāmaki Makaurau of which Emerge Aotearoa is a partner. The Network is a collection of community housing providers committed to increasing the supply of, affordable, healthy, and quality housing options for the people of Auckland.

Click on the link below to view the ACHPN website.

Auckland Youth Mobile Team attends Kooza Cirque du Soleil

We may work in a challenging field, but every now and then we surprised with wonderful opportunities!

Thank you/ka whakamihi to the Circability Trust and Kooza Cirque du Soleil from the Auckland Youth Mobile Team. Rangatahi, their whānau and kaimahi had an amazing opportunity to attend the Kooza - Cirque du Soleil show on Valentine’s day.

Kooza is a sensory experience which pays homage to the original circus idea. Acrobatics and clowns combine with a fun, slightly scary storyline. It was a sensory experience like no other bursting with lights, sounds and colours which highlighted a beautiful story.

Rangatahi who attended this event enjoyed this spectacular show and were in awe of the abilities of the performers. This was an experience like no other that would have been beyond reach for many of the young people we work with. The show was thoroughly enjoyed by the rangatahi and their whānau who were lucky enough to attend.

The following feedback highlighted how amazing the performance was: ‘’Wow, this was the best thing I’ve seen. It was brilliant. It was funny, breath-taking and awesome. I absolutely loved it!’’

A BIG thank you to the Circability Trust who gave us complimentary tickets for this amazing show.

We look forward to doing more combined events in the future.

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He Ara Oranga Released

Read He Ara Oranga : Report of the Government Inquiry into Mental Health and Addiction released on 4 December here.

Emerge Aotearoa hosts 13th Biennial Asia Pacific Mental Health and Addiction Conference

Nō mātou o Emerge Aotearoa te whiwhi, nō mātou te hōnore ki te whakatū i te Hui-a-Ao tekau mātoru (13th) o Asia Paciﬁc Mental Health i Aotearoa a te tau 2018.

Emerge Aotearoa under the auspices of the Richmond Fellowship Asia Paciﬁc (AsPac) Forum and in partnership with key New Zealand organisations is delighted to have hosted the:

The two-day conference, themed “Healthy Futures: Inspiration, Inclusion and Integration”, brought together a diverse collective of international and indigenous thought leaders and delegates. Over 270 delegates came together from the mental health, addiction, housing, corrections and other social sectors to discover home-grown and international innovations that will support Aotearoa’s response to the distress experienced by so many in our communities.

International keynote speakers included Australia’s first indigenous doctor, Professor Helen Milroy and member of the recent Australian Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse as well as Yale University and Founders of ‘Citizenship and the Citizens Project’ Professor Michael Rowe and Patty Benedict, a member of the Abenaki Nation of the Odanak reservation in Canada.

The Citizenship and the Citizens Project is an initiative that recognises the importance of ensuring citizenship and social inclusion for people who continue to be marginalised, particularly people with mental health and addiction challenges, people who are homeless and/or people re-entering society after time in correctional facilities. It is about recognising the importance of addressing the basic needs in people’s lives such as housing, work, family, community and safety so they can be engaged citizens and live well.

Professor Milroy has developed and implemented multiple national approaches for the provision of culturally aware health services. As a member of the Royal Commission of Inquiry, she advocated for compassionate processes that allow people to disclose abuse in a way that is healing. Professor Rowe has dedicated his work to focus on social inclusion, and founded the world-leading Citizenship Project that has supported social equity for 17 years

We were also honoured to hear from several home-grown keynotes such as Josiah Tualamali'i who spoke about culture, engagement and identity, Fiona Trevelyan who talked about 'growing stronger, together – a healthy future for all' and Shreya Rao who addressed the issue of 'what happens when a youth consumer advocate grows up?'.

We welcomed 86 speakers in total, who presented some of the most innovative approaches to bettering services.

Links to presentations from the conference can be found below.

Day One - Wednesday 31 October:

Barbara Disley - Welcome

Helen Milroy - In 1978 a little boy started crying....In 2014, he still is.

Josiah Tualamali'i - Keynote

Lisa Philips - How 'well' are addiction practitioners in NZ?

Katie Pui-Fan - Peer support service: A critical stepping stone to recovery based practice in Hong Kong

Manu Sione & Will Gonzales - The value of authentic cultural change

Kimina Andersen & Kingsley Bedwell - Closing the gap or widening the problem?

Emma Wood & Caro Swanson - Enhancing connection through values-informed practice

Carla na Nagara - Breaking the mould of suicide investigation