Rooms for homeless filled in just a week
A Wellington women’s shelter has nearly trebled its capacity, but still has enough demand to fill its rooms five times over.
Wellington Homeless Women’s Trust yesterday officially opened its new upgrade, which has seen the number of beds available to homeless women increase from five to 14.
Trust general manager Haria Tareha said “words couldn’t express” the feeling of being able to offer a bed to a woman in need.
“[We were] limited to five rooms for three months and when one comes vacant you get 20 referrals wanting that one room.
“To be able to say, ‘Yes you can come in’, what a great feeling . . . within a week we filled up nine rooms.”
She said they were still fielding ongoing demand for beds, and could easily fill their shelter five times over.
“Absolutely and that would be an understatement,” she said.
“It’s sad, but there is a need and it’s only going to increase.”
More capacity would mean women were aware of their emergency housing options, and could be supported earlier in their lives.
The WHWT upgrade was yesterday blessed and unveiled to a gathering of councillors, police, and members of the public.
Associate Housing Minister Marama Davidson said she was honoured to unveil the plaque of the newly named Te Whare Nuku Noa alongside the Minister of Housing, Megan Woods.
“Housing and manaaki support is a healing place,” she said.