Downtown Community Ministry

Bulletin

21 March 2007

Housing the 'hard to house'

The expertise of Downtown Community Ministry's Project Margin team is being put to good use at Wellington's reopened Night Shelter.

In the two months since the Night Shelter reopened DCM has taken an active role by working with those in the hostel rooms and assisting them into more independent and permanent housing.

This work includes setting up benefit redirections to make sure rent is paid and the development of a personal plan that describes their current context, their experiences and what goals they have for housing, health, education and employment.

The plan also includes the different groups that can help the client achieve their goals and what steps are needed to get there.

DCM's more formalised involvement comes as the Night Shelter adopts a holistic approach to housing and its residents own development.

Project Margin's Community Outreach Worker Alan Norman says "People accessing the shelter have historically used it as the end of the road, now they are encouraged to find their feet and given the support to move on".

He says, "It [the Night Shelter] offers a stepping stone of semi supported accommodation to prepare people for a more independent situation".

ENDS

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