Lack of compassion a big factor

The buildings of Project Jericho emergency housing, closed by the City Mission in 2012. PICTURE / PAUL BROOKS

"Being homeless is like living in a post-apocalyptic world. You're on the outskirts of society." — Frank Dillane

After reading the article in the Whanganui Chronicle by Laurel Stowell, I wonder if we have courage to come "Face to Face with homelessness". How can I again help the Tiffanys and Mathews in our community now? My Angels say know history and learn from it. Housing problems are not new. I know this from talking with those who are homeless, teenagers couch surfing, those who struggle to afford the high rents and hard-working people unable to buy their own home, all seeking a degree of stability for their families.

As City Missioner (2004-2011) I became aware of discussions recorded in the minutes of the Christian Social Services Board (CSSW) as early as 1992: People had come seeking accommodation and even identified the need for a Junior Night Shelter. One of the City Missioner's roles was helping people needing accommodation. In the 2002 strategic plan and in 2003, CSSW made several attempts to kick-start emergency housing and formally accepted overnight accommodation as part of its core business in 2004, when research suggested that between five and eight people each week needed some sort of emergency or temporary accommodation in Whanganui. The Mayor and Council had been very helpful in past years, but the new Mayor did not want "those kind of people in his city" and the Council became even more distant and written reports went without consideration.

Fortunately, other helping agencies in Wanganui also saw people struggling, believed we needed emergency housing and that the Mission was the right agency to run it. We had a good understanding of what people needed and a direction that Emergency Housing could take. The CSSW Board formally accept overnight emergency accommodation as part of its core business in 2005 and were clear that the need was not just for single men but for women and men with children.

In December 2007, Project Jericho — Emergency and Temporary Accommodation opened. It had taken at least 14 years to finally provide enough accommodation for homeless people in the Wanganui district. Running from 2005 to 2012, the eight three-bedroomed units began housing families, single men and women and teenagers from challenging circumstances. Some stayed a few days, allowing agencies to find something more permanent. Others stayed longer times as we explored the multi areas of mental health, drug addiction and historic abuse. With an 80 per cent occupancy, displaced people were safe, sleeping in warm beds, having enough food, talking about their struggles and challenges. Areas of growth were those people with mental health issues, teenagers unable to live with their families, people involved in domestic violence and those on parole from prison seeking to start again. We worked alongside PARS who for years quietly offered accommodation and still do. People could take a breather and plan their next step with support. The public knew who to call on and we began to have less people sleeping on the streets and a process to get people into affordable and safe housing.

I was saddened when Project Jericho closed in 2012, only a few months after I left the Mission. On the Board at the time and involved with the closure, was a current District Councillor, David Bennett. I found it frustrating that the lack of vision then has meant that we have gone around in a circle and had to start again, instead of having the faith to do what was needed the first time round. We had found a housing solution for Whanganui, a model that was used to encourage other towns and cities to try. Then it was gone.
I was pleased to read that the Housing Trust and more recently the Salvation Army have places available and continue this necessary work.

Although housing is not a new issue, I agree with Mayor Hamish that because the population has increased, it has a become a more complex issue. We can all do something. I have had the privilege of being part of organisations which endeavoured to challenge successive governments to be concerned for those who are forced to or choose to live on the streets, in substandard housing and struggling to afford rent. It takes guts to work with homeless people, as most people don't want to have these problems on their doorstep or in their backyard. We have it already in our backyard, on our doorsteps. My Angels agree that part of our problem is that we seem to be able to look the other way and therein lies the bigger problem. Lack of compassion.
Arohanui.
Shirley-Joy.
Information shared comes from the book Mission in the City — Hopes and Dreams — Chapter 12 — And suddenly we will be doing the impossible — Emergency Housing. For copies contact belbarow@gmail.com