By working quickly and closely with partners and local providers, Kaiāwhina recently helped a woman access all the essentials, says Taina.
“Displaced from her home city and recovering from injuries, the woman had contacted a few other support services but was unsure of where to go next, so she was directed to our space. One week later she was back to thank us for our help that day. She was welcomed by a local non-governmental organisation (NGO) providing accommodation for women and was recovering well. She felt safe and was set to see a social worker as well as receiving counselling.”
It’s outcomes and partnerships like this that Kaiāwhina Taina says makes the role really rewarding.
On top of visits from service seekers, there have been over 240 visits from service providers, helping Te Wāhi Āwhina to meet the community’s needs. These connections have been growing stronger over the year, with Ministry of Social Development (MSD) now offering integrated services twice a week.
The Salvation Army Outreach team, and Tuatahi Services also have a presence at Te Wāhi Āwhina. Pastor Joe, of the Salvation Army, holds strong mana in the community and plays a key role in building trusted relationships with service seekers.
“Without our partners we wouldn’t be able to act as quickly as we would like. We look forward to building more partnerships to better our service and provide time-saving solutions for those who are also serving our Wellington city communities,” says Taina.
One year on, Te Wāhi Āwhina is contributing to positive change on Manners Street by adding another layer of capable guardianship. More eyes on the park and the connection with CCTV, Hāpai Ake and the Police means issues are dealt with quickly. The presence of this support base has meant that local businesses have gained confidence, experienced fewer issues and feel much more positive about operating in the area.
Read more about the work being done through the Pōneke Promise.