The Wellington City Mission welcomes the Government’s Budget 2020 investment in responding to and preventing
homelessness. Says Murray Edridge, Wellington City Missioner.
“The Government’s $150 million to deliver more transitional housing places, and $6 million for the delivery and
evaluation of locally-driven initiatives highlights the extent of work that lies ahead for us to continue housing people
on a regional and national scale.
“We’ve worked at pace during the COVID19 period to house our City’s homeless and rough sleepers, and break the cycle of
homelessness in the Wellington region. While we play a small part in offering transitional housing, this is one stepping
stone necessary to supporting people into permanent housing.
“City Mission’s right across the country have pulled out all the stops to provide somewhere for the homeless and rough
sleepers to self-isolate. Here in Wellington we opened Te Paapori – an accommodation facility of self-isolation units.
Helping our city’s homeless and rough sleepers to be off the street remains top of mind in our approach going forward.
“It has to be recognised that transitional and emergency housing should not be people’s final destination. They deserve
their own place to call home, and we are contributing to their pathway with that objective.” Says Murray Edridge.