Nelson City Council has approved a Housing Reserve grant of $100,260 to the Nelson Women’s Centre to enable it to support more women into safe and appropriate housing. 

The Women’s Centre will receive the grant from the Housing Reserve Fund to deliver the Housing Vulnerability for Women Project over the next two years. The funds will be used to address a lack of specialised support and accommodation services for vulnerable or homeless women in Nelson.

Nelson Women’s Centre Funding & Partnership Coordinator Augusta van Wijk says women’s homelessness is often hidden, which means many women struggle to access support early enough.

“Over the past year, about 30 percent of our social work caseload has involved housing-related concerns — and that doesn’t include the women we’ve had to refer elsewhere due to limited capacity. 

“We’re using this funding to employ a dedicated Housing Navigator — a practical, targeted role that will strengthen our ability to support women into safe, stable housing and enable our social worker to respond to other urgent needs. It’s about increasing our capacity, reach and impact at a time when the needs of vulnerable women in our community are growing,” says Augusta. 

“Depending on each woman’s circumstances, our Housing Navigator will provide information about current housing options and how to access them. Where needs are more urgent or complex, the Navigator will liaise with specialist agencies to coordinate support and connect women with the right services." 

Based on the Women’s Centre current caseload of women needing support and engagement with other providers, demand is expected to be high. The centre will aim to prioritise women who are homeless, living in unsafe environments, or who have dependent children living with them in unstable housing. 

“We are grateful that Nelson City Council recognises the vital role the Women’s Centre plays in early intervention and preventive support. We know wellbeing begins with a safe place to live and feeling connected to the community. This programme will strengthen our ability to respond effectively to women who need us most,” says Augusta. 

The Housing Reserve Fund was established in 2021 following the divestment of Council’s community housing portfolio to Kāinga Ora. The proceeds were reserved to reinvest in social housing and to support community housing providers in Nelson. 

Nelson Mayor Nick Smith says the $12 million Housing Reserve Fund has been used to support the development of more than 115 quality one-to-four-bedroom homes. 

“Council’s work on housing in Nelson has identified a gap in specialist support for women, some with children, who are homeless or in vulnerable housing. We are partnering with the Women’s Centre to provide a navigator to help get these women into emergency and then longer-term secure accommodation.

“There is no single silver bullet for Nelson’s challenges with homelessness and we need multiple interventions. I’m hugely encouraged by how much new private-sector, state and community housing we are getting built in Nelson, but we also need well-targeted social services such as Housing First and this new Women’s Centre intervention to ensure every Nelsonian has a warm, dry home to live in.” 

Through the development of the Long Term Plan 2024–34, Council expanded the purpose of the Housing Reserve Fund so it could be used more broadly to provide enduring support to reduce housing vulnerability and $250,000 was set aside to fund a major project aligned with this focus. 

The project is an extension of the work the Women’s Centre is already doing allowing for a longer-term investment and delivery timeframe. 

Nelson City Councillor Sarah Kerby says the programme tackles a clear need for many women living in our city without housing security. 

“Council is delighted that we are able to help fund this new programme. The Navigator role will help the centre provide early intervention for women when they need it the most and I would encourage our wāhine to get in contact with them if their housing situation becomes precarious or unsafe. They will find themselves in supportive hands that will help them get closer to finding somewhere safe and healthy to live.” 

The remainder of the Housing Reserve fund is still ring-fenced for housing projects for vulnerable people and will be allocated at a later date according to the reserve’s criteria.

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