Dwell Housing Trust is reporting strong early results from its Housing First partnership with Downtown Community Ministry (DCM), with tenants already showing noticeable improvements in health, wellbeing, and stability after moving into their homes.

The partnership, which began housing people at the end of January, is part of the Government’s commitment last September to fund an additional 300 Housing First places nationwide.

Dwell provides and manages the homes, while DCM delivers the wrap-around support that helps people settle, heal, and rebuild their lives.

Dwell Chief Executive Elizabeth Lester says the early outcomes highlight what the organisation has championed through its It Starts with Home campaign: that a safe, secure home is the foundation for every other part of life to improve.

“Having a home is the turning point,” Ms Lester says. “Once people have stability, everything else becomes possible – reconnecting with whānau, improving health, studying or working, setting new goals. We are seeing that happen already.”

Sixteen people have already been housed by Dwell through Housing First, with that number set to reach 30 by June. Many are experiencing rapid improvements.

One tenant has started studying to become a support worker. Having a secure home has given them the stability needed to focus on education and future aspirations.

Another tenant, who had been living on the street for three years, has gained weight and seen major health improvements. Dwell Tenancy Operations Manager Gabriela Montane says the change has been remarkable.

“Before being housed, he was frequently in hospital and often disengaged. Now he’s cooking for himself, he’s bright, engaged and hasn’t needed to visit the emergency department,” Ms Montane says.

“A home has given him the chance to take care of his health.”

Montane says close coordination between Dwell and DCM is essential.

“Between us we’re checking in on people, supporting them with tenancy needs, budgeting, appointments, reconnecting with whānau – whatever they need to succeed long-term.”

Dwell Tenancy Manager Ben Jury says the quality of the homes is a key part of why tenants are settling so well.

“There isn’t a single property that we have that I wouldn’t be happy to live in,” he says.

One DCM staff member noted that “because of the good quality of the properties, they feel they are worth something.”

By June, Dwell and DCM will have supported 30 people into permanent Housing First homes. Ms Lester says this will make a visible and meaningful difference in Wellington, where the street community has been growing over the past two years. The hope is that funding contracts will be extended so that the Dwell/DCM partnership can house even more people in the year to come.

“Housing First works. It ends homelessness by providing the one thing people need most, a home, and wrapping support around them. It genuinely changes lives, and as a result Wellington will benefit.”

For more on Dwell and It Starts with Home visit https://www.dwell.org.nz/

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