S02E05 - The Front Lines of Homelessness

Summary

Natalia Cleland of Downtown Community Ministry (DCM) discusses the organization's work with marginalized and homeless individuals in Wellington. DCM has been providing support for 54 years and focuses on ending homelessness and advocating for the most vulnerable. They have government contracts for housing first and outreach services, but also rely on donations. The conversation explores the increase in homelessness in New Zealand, the challenges faced by those seeking housing, and the need for more affordable housing. The conversation explores the factors contributing to the homelessness crisis in New Zealand and the role of the Human Rights Commission in addressing the issue. It emphasizes the need for affordable and decent housing as a human right and calls for action from the government. The discussion also highlights the importance of social support services, such as the Sustaining Tenancies program, and the need for rehabilitation and counseling for individuals in the justice system. The conversation concludes with a reflection on the role of community groups and the importance of unity in addressing homelessness.

Keywords

Downtown Community Ministry, DCM, marginalized, homeless, Wellington, housing first, outreach services, government contracts, donations, homelessness, affordable housing, homelessness, housing crisis, social housing, human rights, government action, social support, rehabilitation, community groups

Takeaways

• Downtown Community Ministry (DCM) has been working with marginalized and homeless individuals in Wellington for 54 years.

• DCM focuses on ending homelessness and advocating for the most vulnerable.

• They have government contracts for housing first and outreach services, but also rely on donations.

• The conversation explores the increase in homelessness in New Zealand, the challenges faced by those seeking housing, and the need for more affordable housing. Housing is a human right and should be treated as such, not as a commodity.

• Government action and investment in affordable and decent housing is crucial to address the homelessness crisis.

• Social support services, such as the Sustaining Tenancies program, play a vital role in helping vulnerable tenants maintain their housing.

• Rehabilitation and counseling should be accessible to individuals in the justice system to address the underlying causes of their actions.

• Community groups and unity are important in addressing homelessness and providing support to those in need.

Titles

• Ending Homelessness: The Work of DCM

• The Need for More Affordable Housing The Role of Social Support Services in Maintaining Tenancies

• Addressing the Underlying Causes of Crime in the Justice System

Sound Bites

• "DCM, Downtown Community Ministry, is a small organization based in Wellington, like you said, working with the most marginalized, with the people who are rough sleeping and doing it pretty hard on the streets and couch surfing."

• "We went from about 15 staff to 50 in a couple of years and now around 60. So that contract with Housing and Urban Development, with HUD, for the Housing First Service is one of our bigger contracts."

• "It feels like there is something that has changed in New Zealand's economy or society that has caused an increase in people who are homeless or especially rough sleeping."

• "There was a real increase in the number of people on the social housing waitlist in December 2022."

• "We seem to be running our housing construction industry to serve a market rather than to serve the needs of the people."

• "Housing is a human right. It's not earned, it's not deserved, it's a human right."