Kai’s story.
After a stint living with us at transitional housing site, Te Pā Pori, Kai has transformed his life. He tells us about his journey, and how Te Pā Pori made such a difference for him:
“Until about five years ago, I was going OK in life. I had a flat and worked for myself as a plasterer. That was until I had a bad falling out with one of my good friends. It escalated to the point some people started damaging my work vehicle pretty much every week. Because I kept having to pay to fix it, I started getting behind on rent.
“I ended up getting evicted, and with nowhere else to go, I ended up living in my vehicle. I was still working for myself as a plasterer, but work wasn’t consistent, and I was in a bad place mentally. Everything was hard and I lost my focus in life. Substance abuse became a way to cope and escape, and I became addicted to drugs for the next few years. It was the lowest time of my life.
“One day, I just thought, ‘I’m sick of this cycle, and I’m sick of being broke.’ I needed a place to recover, to get some rest from the constant struggle, and give up the drugs. And in April last year, I moved into the Mission’s Supported Transitional Housing, Te Pā Pori.
“I still had my guard up for a while as I figured out what the Mission actually was. At first you’re worried about who else is in there with you and what the staff are all about. But I soon realised that the Pā was the best place I could have been. It was where I needed to be to reset my life and make the fresh start that I wanted.
“I started talking with all the staff and using the programmes. It was a really safe environment, and being there lets you open up to receive the help you need. The weekly AOD counselling was huge for me, and the daily routines also helped a lot – like every morning making sure your room is tidy and joining Whakaaro mō te Rā (Thought of the Day). Whakaaro gave me a lot of clarity, and helped me learn my own faults so I could seek advice.
“My kaiarahi, Craig, was a legend. He helped me do things in months that I couldn’t have done for myself in years. He helped me not only with my problems and finding my equilibrium but also with practical things. He pushed to get my teeth all fixed because they were really bad. I got my smile back because of that, and I’m so thankful.
“I climbed mountains when I was at The Mission. In one year, I’d built myself up, started working properly again and got off drugs. Then we started looking for a house for me to move into. It took a month for them to find a place in Mount Cook through Housing NZ, and I moved in. It’s amazing, it’s warm, and it’s my home.
“I changed who I am through the Mission, and life is so good. Work is going well, I’m budgeting, and most importantly, I’m nearly a year completely clean from drugs. God is the centre of my life again, and I still visit the Pā every month with my church to give back.
“I made it because of all the programmes and resources the Mission offers. The things you learn there become ingrained in your mind, so when you walk into the real world it’s all automatic to you. That keeps your life balanced and moving in the right direction. But it’s also just the way they treat you. You’re never just a number, you’re a person who needs a bit of help.
“So I want to thank everyone who works at the Pā, and give a huge thank you to everyone who supports. To Mission donors, I say please keep donating! The residents at the Pā appreciate your support from the bottom of their hearts, and they need it to keep going.”
