Wellington Homeless Women’s Trust Disappointed to Be Celebrating Fifth Birthday

The Wellington Homeless Women’s Trust marks five years of operation this May, but it is a milestone they are disappointed to be celebrating.

“While it is a great achievement that the charity has been running a financially sustainable model for the last five years, it is frankly disappointing that our service is still needed,” said Kirsten Patterson, Chair of the Board for the Trust.

“Over the last five years the problem of homelessness in Wellington, especially for women, has not abated and demand for our services is increasing,” she said.

The Trust welcomes the Government’s recent announcement of $100m of funding for homelessness but notes there is still significant work to do.

“Unfortunately, I suspect that services like the Wellington Homeless Women’s Trust will continue to be required for many years to come. We are thankful to the Wellington community for their ongoing support.”

The Wellington Homeless Women’s Trust is a volunteer run charity dedicated to providing emergency support and accommodation to homeless women in Wellington.

Women’s homelessness is often hidden - staying with a violent partner because she can’t afford to leave, couch-surfing from one relative to another, or living in unhygienic and unsafe buildings, overcrowded conditions, or in cars.

The Wellington Homeless Women’s Trust works in partnership with a variety of social services to provide the necessary support to move women on through a three-month programme. The Trust is also part of the Housing First Programme in Wellington, a collective of housing providers who are working on a collective approach to combating homelessness in Wellington.

“Women come to us needing hands-on support and a safe environment to rebuild their lives. We provide women with temporary accommodation while they get back on their feet,” Kirsten said. “In the current housing environment, finding safe, secure, affordable rental options for homeless women within three months is almost impossible.”

About the Wellington Homeless Women’s Trust: www.homeless.org.nz

© Scoop Media