Wellington Homeless Women’s Trust Disappointed to Be Celebrating Fifth Birthday
The Wellington Homeless Women’s Trust marks five years of operation this May, but it is a milestone they are
disappointed to be celebrating.
“While it is a great achievement that the charity has been running a financially sustainable model for the last five
years, it is frankly disappointing that our service is still needed,” said Kirsten Patterson, Chair of the Board for the
Trust.
“Over the last five years the problem of homelessness in Wellington, especially for women, has not abated and demand for
our services is increasing,” she said.
The Trust welcomes the Government’s recent announcement of $100m of funding for homelessness but notes there is still
significant work to do.
“Unfortunately, I suspect that services like the Wellington Homeless Women’s Trust will continue to be required for many
years to come. We are thankful to the Wellington community for their ongoing support.”
The Wellington Homeless Women’s Trust is a volunteer run charity dedicated to providing emergency support and
accommodation to homeless women in Wellington.
Women’s homelessness is often hidden - staying with a violent partner because she can’t afford to leave, couch-surfing
from one relative to another, or living in unhygienic and unsafe buildings, overcrowded conditions, or in cars.
The Wellington Homeless Women’s Trust works in partnership with a variety of social services to provide the necessary
support to move women on through a three-month programme. The Trust is also part of the Housing First Programme in
Wellington, a collective of housing providers who are working on a collective approach to combating homelessness in
Wellington.
“Women come to us needing hands-on support and a safe environment to rebuild their lives. We provide women with
temporary accommodation while they get back on their feet,” Kirsten said. “In the current housing environment, finding
safe, secure, affordable rental options for homeless women within three months is almost impossible.”
About the Wellington Homeless Women’s Trust: www.homeless.org.nz