New resources help brighten the future of Tauranga men's shelter

Last year staff at the Tauranga Moana Nightshelter helped 53 homeless men transition into permanent housing.

With more funding and resources, this year the team are on track to double that number.

New funding from the Ministry of Social Development allowed the organisation to employ two new full-time staff members and in two months 10 men had already been moved into homes.

Tauranga Moana Nightshelter manager Annamarie Angus said six of the men had moved into the private market of a rental or boarding situation and three were now living in social housing.

"The outlook is good; we are looking to double our numbers from 2017," Angus said.

New client services manager Jolene Cotter was looking forward to getting "stuck in" and would help open new doors for the men who used the shelter.

Support worker Charmaine Green was employed three weeks ago and said her role was to support and advocate for the men at the shelter.

"We have a lot of vulnerable members in the community and we can help make changes alongside them," she said.

Green said it was hard to describe the feeling of helping someone get into a home but celebrating successes was one of the best parts of the job.

A Ministry of Social Development spokesperson said the relationship between the ministry and the night shelter would provide much-needed transitional housing support to men who were homeless or in urgent need of somewhere to live.

"As a provider that focuses on supporting single men with high and complex needs, Tauranga Moana Nightshelter Trust is well placed to provide this support," the spokesperson said.

The ministry funding would help the Tauranga Moana Nightshelter Trust provide transitional housing services for up to 20 men at a time, over the next three years.

"The trust's staff work alongside each person, offering practical and emotional support services to get into a stronger situation and find long-term homes.

"This support carries on for three months after people move into a long-term home," the spokesperson said.

"As a transitional housing provider, the trust will potentially help up to 80 people a year or 240 people over its three-year contract."

Transitional housing
• Transitional housing offered people in need a warm, safe place for up to 12 weeks, or more if needed, while they find a long-term home.
• Transitional housing also includes support to help people find housing and address any other issues they may face.