Wellington City Mission welcomes Budget 2020 investment to prevent homelessness

Thursday 14 May, 2020

The Wellington City Mission welcomes the Government’s Budget 2020 investment in responding to and preventing homelessness. Says Murray Edridge, Wellington City Missioner.

“The
Government’s $150 million to deliver more transitional housing places, and $6
million for the delivery and evaluation of locally-driven initiatives
highlights the extent of work that lies ahead for us to continue housing people
on a regional and national scale.

“We’ve worked
at pace during the COVID19 period to house our City’s homeless and rough
sleepers, and break the cycle of homelessness in the Wellington region. While
we play a small part in offering transitional housing, this is one stepping
stone necessary to supporting people into permanent housing.

“City Mission’s
right across the country have pulled out all the stops to provide somewhere for
the homeless and rough sleepers to self-isolate. Here in Wellington we opened
Te Paapori – an accommodation facility of self-isolation units. Helping our
city’s homeless and rough sleepers to be off the street remains top of mind in
our approach going forward.

“It has to be
recognised that transitional and emergency housing should not be people’s final
destination. They deserve their own place to call home, and we are contributing
to their pathway with that objective.” Says Murray Edridge.

ENDS

Media
contact: Kieran Meredith, 027 879 2336