Shelter still looking for land

Kevin and Kiri Swannell 'in limbo' as their October deadline looms for removing their building. Photo / File

Land, land everywhere, but nowhere to settle Hawke's Bay's first homeless shelter.

As July closes, there are a few pressing thoughts on the minds of Kiri and Kevin Swannell; the first is raising $11,000 needed to meet a $65,000 goal for Limitless Hope on Givealittle, or risk losing all pledges to date.

The second is where to put a 240sq m, two-storey building donated by Property Brokers before October, when it must be removed from its current site on St Aubyn St in Hastings.

"The removers have said they will store the house but we don't want it stored because we don't want to lose momentum - the faster we can get on the land, the faster we can get it up and running," Mrs Swannell said.

Limitless Hope aims to house families and individuals who find themselves in desperate situations, while working alongside other agencies to make a difference.

It couldn't happen soon enough: "We had an incident at the weekend where someone's house burned down - they had no money and nowhere to go, it's another way, all of a sudden, a tragedy can come along."

All land possibilities had fallen through and the Swannell's had no further options, save trying to raise even more money to buy a plot.

"Nothing so far has actually come through, we got our hopes up but we are in limbo".

Anyone with land to donate could come forward and contact the couple. While moving the house from A to B was covered by removers - the Swannell's would have to pay for the building to be cut into sections, for a crane to lift them and then find a project manager who may need paying too.

PK Furniture in Hastings held a three-day furniture sale over the weekend giving up to seven per cent of every sale to help Kiri and Kevin's cause.

They also held a sausage sizzle as well as selling raffle tickets and hangi meal packages.

Meanwhile, in Napier, Mr Swannell spent the night sleeping in a van in a car park to walk in the shoes of the more disadvantaged, raising a total of $900 for the emergency shelter.

Another $900 was donated by Sugar Queen Cakery, by selling pre-packed cupcakes last week.