The Trust set up to establish New Zealand’s first wet-house facility is withdrawing from its current funding relationship with Capital and Coast DHB and Wellington City Council, says Ruth Harrison, Chairperson of the Te Whare Oki Oki Trust.

“Abrupt changes in the DHB’s funding conditions mean that the Trust is no longer willing to rely on the Council and DHB to provide their linked funding for the wet-house at the proposed location in Island Bay,” said Ruth Harrison.

“The DHB’s decision to demand a five-year funding plan right now – rather than after the project had been running for a year, as had been originally agreed – is unreasonable. This is a pilot project and its success can only sensibly be assessed after its first year of operation. Most other NGO’s in this country operate on a one-year funding agreement.

“The Trust remains committed to establishing a wet-house in Wellington and is pursuing other funding options.

“The wet-house would provide a staffed, safe environment where a small group of homeless people with long-term alcohol dependence would be provided with the support they need.

“It is based on highly successful overseas models and has the backing of health professionals, community leaders, Police, Housing New Zealand and many people in Island Bay and throughout Wellington.

“To those people the Trust offers its sincerest thanks for their continued support and its promise to continue working to provide safe and supportive places to live for homeless people who have experienced chronic alcohol dependence and unmet health needs.

“What this current debate has so far overlooked is the continuing plight of some of the most marginalised members of our community. They, too, deserve our compassion and the opportunity to live their lives with dignity.”

ENDS

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