ON THE STREETS

As COVID-19 brings the issue of homelessness into the spotlight, New Zealanders open their wallets to help.

What do you do when the government tells you to “stay at home” but you have no home to go to? This was the reality for thousands of New Zealanders sleeping rough when the country went into lockdown. In response, the Government announced a multi-million dollar support package to house the homeless in motels across the country. Since then, over 1,000 motels units have been made available for rough sleepers and vulnerable families.

Tiny Deane, founder of Visions of a Helping Hand (VHH), a charitable trust offering shelter for women, children and rough sleepers in Rotorua and Taupo, says the scale of response has given him hope for a future free of homelessness. “Before COVID-19, I didn’t think we could cure homelessness in Rotorua, let alone anywhere else,” he says. “But now, I honestly believe we can.” Following the lockdown restrictions and the risks of COVID-19 spreading in communal living, VHH had to move the people in their three shelters to motels. “We’re looking after five motels now with 200 people in total,” says Deane.

Operating since 2017, VHH not only offers shelter, but help with transitional housing, support for finding jobs, and work and whānau programmes. One of the biggest positives to come out of the COVID-19 response, says Deane, is mental health support. “We’ve been lucky to have a psychiatrist by our side that’s been coming down to visit us, as and when we need him. He could be the difference that we needed,” he says.

“With rough sleepers, you can have drug addiction, violence, anti-social behaviour. [It] puts a lot of things into perspective on how to work with these people. Now we know how to address it. We’ve done really well over the five motels.”

Another positive Deane has seen come out of the crisis is the outpouring of support from the community. “People have sent in thousands of dollars. It’s quite overwhelming,” he says. The donations are going straight out into the community, shared with community groups that are providing food for not only rough sleepers, but people struggling with job losses.

Alongside greater government support and community connections, Deane says a compassionate approach is key to a better future for our most vulnerable. “It’s all about caring – manaakitanga,” he says. “It’s not about giving a handout; it’s about a hand up. There’s a big difference.”

“IT’S NOT ABOUT GIVING A HANDOUT; IT’S ABOUT A HAND UP.”

TINY DEANE