Former Takitimu House resident Peter Walsh. Photo / George Novak
Former Takitimu House resident Peter Walsh. Photo / George Novak
The doors at Takitimu House were thrust open to Tauranga's homeless men five years ago, becoming a beacon of hope for a portion of the community previously shunned and left out in the cold. Reporter Jean Bell checks in with the shelter five years after it opens.
Peter Walsh's musicand IT diplomas are proudly hung on his lounge walls, but his biggest triumph is the roof over his head.
Walsh, who was battling prostate cancer, found himself on the street after accumulating too much debt as a student. He had got behind in rent and was kicked out of his flat.
The former fitter-welder slept on other people's couches before seeking help at Takitimu House, formerly known as the Tauranga Moana Men's Night Shelter.
Former Takitimu House resident Peter Walsh. Photo / George Novak
Walsh's stay at the homeless shelter is among 1668 visits since it opened five years ago. He is also one of 53 men who found a home to live in last year.
Walsh admits it was challenging adjusting to the house rules, which included waking at 6am for breakfast and chores before fitting in counselling, budgeting courses, job searching and health and nutrition programmes.
Now he is on a sickness benefit and has settled into his own home provided by Accessible Housing.
"But I don't know where I'd be today otherwise. I am in debt to these people, eternally."
Takitimu House manager Annamarie Angus said witnessing the transformation of men's lives was rewarding.
Angus said the biggest misconception around homeless men was they "should just get a job" but their unresolved trauma, often from a young age, affected their ability to work.
"These people have been looked down on, trod on and ignored for the best part of their lives. They need to learn to trust again and learn what it means to be a part of our society again.
"I challenge anyone to give up their homes and carry on with their jobs. Give away all of your ID, lose everything. Accompany that with a bit of trauma then find your way."
Takitimu House manager Annamarie Angus and support worker Lance Wilson. Photo / George Novak
Angus said getting men help from social agencies such as the Ministry of Social Development was challenging as many men had been in and out of services their whole lives.
In-depth treatment and support were needed to resolve the horrific trauma some men had experienced, she said.
"The damage is caused over many years and we will always need to look after this group," she said.
"We will keep walking alongside them until they feel strong enough to manage on their own."
A little more than 100 men visited the homeless shelter when it first opened in 2014. Last year, there were more than 500, including repeat visitors.
Members of the Tauranga Moana Night Shelter Trust at the opening of Tauranga's first homeless shelter for men. Photo / File
Lance Wilson used to live on the streets and now his home is at Takitimu House. His job is the house supervisor.
Wilson said his experience on the street meant he brought more empathy to the role and he was rewarded by seeing people reach a place where they could move forward with their lives.
"I've walked in their shoes," he said.
Former board member Michael Mills said the shelter had fulfilled the vision of providing support and advocacy for homeless men in the past five years.
But he said the Tauranga Moana Men's Night Shelter Trust needed a new purpose-built facility in the city as the current site was on a floodplain.
Acting chairman of the trust, Brent Gilbert-De Rios, said now the shelter had reached its five-year milestone, it now needed to focus on filling any gaps in the needs of the city's homeless men.
Five years of Takitimu House - The shelter officially opened on September 9, 2014. - Number of men through the doors - includes repeat visitors 2014: 105 2015: 299 2016: 437 2017: 315 2018: 512 - About 55 men have been helped into housing each year. - It offers nursing clinics, financial literacy, Man Up programme, life skills, drug and alcohol courses through the Hanmer Clinic, trauma counselling, and mirimiri.
