Homes of Hope's new home, Kauri, to help meet demand
The keys to a new foster home built from community generosity of more than $300,000 worth of donated time, money and supplies have been handed to the Homes of Hope Charitable Trust.
Chief executive Hilary Price's dream of having more homes for its foster children may have just come true,with more homes on the horizon.
The news comes as demand for the Trust's services has grown.
However, communications and funding manager Pam French said at the same time Homes of Hope has needed to decrease the number of children it can home from 16 to 10 due to "off the charts" behaviour from "severe" trauma, abuse and neglect.
Finishing touches being made in Homes of Hopes' newest house. Photo / George Novak
The new home was an idea that came from an afternoon tea to thank Classic Builders regional manager Nathan Watkins for raising $25,000 for the Trust in 2019.
Watkins caught wind of the Trust's dream to build another house on-site and offered to build the charity a new home, which his team began work on in November last year.
About $210,000 was donated through tradies and sub-contractors' work time and supplies towards the total $390,000 cost of the new build.
This was topped off with $100,000 from a black-tie event fundraiser organised specifically for the new house by real estate agency Cashmores after realising more money was needed.
Husband-and-wife owners Blair and Kirsty Cashmore have been involved with the Trust for about 10 years and couldn't wait to help after witnessing what the children had been through.
Volunteers gave up their time and there were generous donations, including free carpeting or at-cost supplies.
Six months on and the Trust has a fourth house, named Kauri, which can take up to six foster children.
A volunteer adding blinds to the new Homes of Hopes house. Photo / George Novak
The house was blessed last week and the children are expected to move in over the next month.
Hillary Price said the "power of yes" was a common theme throughout the community-spirit project.
"To have another home enables us to respond more fully and more specifically to the needs of these children, and extends our ability to do so."
Pam French said the charity needs about $10,000 to fill the house with household items for the kitchen, laundry, bathroom, bedrooms and lounge.
Homes of Hopes chief executive Hilary (left) and Pam French in front of their newest home. Photo / George Novak
About 280 children have come through Homes of Hope's door since it opened its first home in 2003, with foster children ranging from babies to 12-year-olds.
Children usually stayed between one to five years, during which time they get the therapy they need and "just have time to be children, which often can be the first time in their young lives".
Homes of Hope provides wraparound care around the children, house parents and caregivers.
On July 8, the Trust will host an evening to celebrate everyone involved in building their newest home.
Donations to help furnish the new home can be made at homesofhope.org.nz/call-to-action/
