From Emergency Accommodation to Permanent Home

John (Not his real name) has had a long history of engagement with DCM. He has been a regular at DCM's Te Hāpai service. They have supported him to sort his benefit and to get his name on the housing register, he has had dental appointments, seen Te Aro Health nurses and received food support at DCM.

John is a very pleasant, quiet and unassuming man who doesn’t ask for support and values his independence.

DCM initially got an emergency housing room for John at AC International House which is a hostel for undergraduate international students. It was immediately clear that a shared place like this didn’t work for him because there were too many people. John was accustomed to living in the bush on his own.

DCM were then able to get him a self-contained place where he could be independent, but where there are also other taumai they are working with. Together, the taumai have formed a very supportive community. They have been company for one another, and have been able to provide advice and support to one another. ‘Taumai’ is what DCM call the people they work with. It means ‘to settle’. 

Dominic from the Aro Mai Housing First team then stepped up to support John in to a permanent home. DCM has a strong relationship with Wellington City Housing, and they were able to get John a WCH tenancy. Last week, he moved into his own home!

He can walk in to town, and has friends and supports close by. Dominic will continue to check in with him regularly, but John is enjoying the independence that is so important to him.

Thanks for being a generous One Percent Collective giver helping DCM to achieve their mission to end homelessness in Wellington.

Story courtesy of DCM