Latest Happenings and Good News
10 June 2017Here's what has been happening ...
Unfortunately, I have been ill for three weeks or so, and I only just got back to the homeless committee meeting yesterday.
V and L were still on the street when I fell ill, but even though I let them know I was sick and didn't know when I would next see them, I was still concerned that they may feel let down by me.
I have learned that promising things and not fulfilling them is the quickest way to lose the trust of the homeless. A lot of the homeless have lived their whole lives in an environment of disappointment and I didn't want to be another person who let them down.
A couple of days into my illness I heard from V and L that they were off the streets. L's mother (who she was estranged from) happened to be in Manurewa and saw V washing windows. She insisted they stay with her until they could find alternative accommodation. What a relief it was for me to find that out as I was very worried about them during my illness.
I was so pleased to receive a text today from them saying they had found emergency housing and will be receiving their first benefit payment on Tuesday. As I was too ill to go to WINZ with them as their advocate, they got up the courage to do it all on their own. I imagine that staying with L's mum had a lot to do with them feeling more capable - sleeping and eating better would have given them the strength to do this on their own. It reinforces how important it is to have safe shelter. The fear and hardships of being on the streets really wreaks havoc with one's confidence, and emotional and physical wellness.
Next steps for them - work and permanent housing. I hope to continue to be a support to them through these times and look forward to seeing them successfully employed and in their own home again.
Thank you again for your generosity. Although the donations we have received will not extend to paying for all the items on the wish list, the money will definitely be put to good use by them.
I am pleased with how things have worked out for V and L, but they are just two people. The head count of the homeless appearing in Manurewa is growing day by day and I am concerned we are not able to help more people, more quickly.
I have realised that I am not able to be out on the streets physically helping, as my health just won't allow me to. So I have changed tack and decided to look into starting up a registered charitable entity to deal with the issue of homelessness in Manurewa. By doing that, I will be able to apply for funding and grants, which I want to use to set up a social enterprise. I have seen amazing things being done in the US for the homeless - enterprises set up by individuals wanting to make a real difference. I want to follow the lead of a woman in Detroit who makes coats that transform into sleeping bags. She uses offcuts from the motor vehicle production process, which is an insulating fabric. She pays homeless (and former homeless) women a wage to sew the coats, providing them with employment and transferable skills.
This coming Monday I will be learning how to crochet plastic shopping bags into sleeping mats for the homeless. The bags are cut into strips that becomes the 'yarn' (also known as plarn - plastic yarn) which is then crocheted into a reasonably thick, springy, waterproof mat. I hope the homeless will be willing to learn how to make their own mats too once I am able to share the technique with them.
The other service I hope to incorporate is portable shower units. The homeless suffer all sorts of skin infections if they are unable to keep themselves clean, so this is an important service. This service in the US has turned into more than just offering a place for them to get clean. They have collaborated with volunteer social workers, medical staff, barbers and hairdressers. They have started pop up markets where free clothing, toiletries, etc are available for the homeless to choose from.
My other idea is to see if I can entice Kiwi Harvest (food waste enterprise) to open a free supermarket in the town centre, stocked with the food supplies they have sourced.
I am dreaming big, but the problem of homelessness is gargantuan and not likely to improve any time soon. So wish me luck :) M xxx