Widow uses house downsizing to give others a step up

Barbara Hogg, centre, with Tommy Wilson and Jena Young from Te Tuinga Whanau with a box of donations. Photo / Andrew Warner

Barbara Hogg has too much house. So she is halving her possessions and giving anything she no longer needs to furnish homes for families in need.

Mrs Hogg lost her husband Ken Hogg in December. The home they shared was too big for just her, and she planned a move to a smaller house at Bethlehem Shores retirement village.

But what to do with all the stuff? Furniture that will not fit, little-used linen, spare spoons - a lifetime of bits and bobs held on to "just in case".

"I need to get rid of at least half my possessions, probably even three quarters," she said.

Enter Te Tuinga Whanau. Mrs Hogg said she had long admired the work of the social services and housing provider and its enigmatic executive director Tommy Wilson.

She sought a meeting with him and was quickly convinced the trust's work was worthwhile.

"I think the philosophy is perfect - helping young people not only with a roof over their heads but with rehabilitation and teaching them new life skills," she said.

Mrs Hogg heard how families were coming into the trust's houses with next to nothing then setting up their own rentals from scratch. She saw an opportunity.

"I am downsizing one house to another and giving away the unwanted furniture and goods to Te Tuinga Whanau families - and I'm encouraging others to do the same."

Between herself and her daughter, who was also having a sort-out, she has sent a couple of truckloads of furniture for the trust to distribute to families - with more to come.

Next on the list was the smaller items.

"They need knives and forks and glasses. All the odds and ends as well as the bulky items."

Mrs Hogg said she liked that her donations were going directly to people who could use them to make a fresh start.

She hoped other people downsizing their homes would consider helping the trust's families too.

Mr Wilson said Te Tuinga started its Whare for Whanau emergency housing programme 18 months ago with one house.

"Now we have nine houses and we've transitioned close to 40 families into their own homes.

"Most of the times those homes have no furniture."

He said Mrs Hogg's idea was "perfect" and he welcomed donations of quality furniture and household items.