On a Mission to Reduce Homelessness

A couple of months ago, I posted on Facebook that the Mission Grocer was opening in Albert Park cottage, Tuesdays and Wednesdays 10-2pm. Nutritious, cheap, yum fruit, veggies, ready made soups ($5) and meals like lasagne and bangers’n’mash for $10. Positioned to support students and locals. And my photo was not all that.

It had significantly more reach than my other posts (bar one).

Earlier that day, Connor Sharp, Anahera Rawiri and I helped out with breakfast at the City Mission and it was a constant flow of people, perhaps 300 in all, including seniors and kids.

Unemployment is too high, under-employment is too high, homelessness is too high, and the proposed changes around benefits and boarders will make life harder.

The government agrees that the homelessness crisis is not a good look and has convened a task force of stakeholders to tackle the issues. Moving on orders are being discussed - though the question is, where to? The centre of the city is where services and support is.

Government or council taking a greater role in providing affordable rental housing would help. This would include building more housing stock for social housing, providing more money for community providers, and better regulating boarding houses because if they are safe, secure and decent people will be more comfortable living in them - and currently the quality is variable.

Work will continue. In the meanwhile the City Mission will appreciate all the help it can get in providing food and shelter this Christmas and through the year ahead.