| e Pae Manaaki Tangata The place where people experience manaakitanga |
| When It’s 9am on a Tuesday morning it is time for the Downtown Community Ministry team to start their day in central Wellington with karakia and waiata. Staff filter out into the courtyard at the end of Lukes Lane, joined by whānau – who are among some of the most marginalised people in the city of Wellington. |
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| Whaea Jenny (right) leads karakia and waiata in DCM’s courtyard, which has filled up with staff and whānau, including numerous people who are rough sleeping. |
| Ngaire is the duty team leader, and with a break in the construction noise going on all around the building, she calls everyone’s attention to what’s happening today. Te Aro Health will be here for walk-in appointments, an MSD worker will be available to talk to people about their housing and other concerns, and at 10am there will be a poetry group. Tea, coffee and kai are also available – and people are welcome to catch up with DCM staff about anything and everything they need. The need is great at the moment. DCM has an Outreach team that met 58 new people on the streets of Wellington in October-December 2023. 47 were recorded as rough sleeping, and almost all made their way to DCM. In fact, alongside DCM’s Outreach team, their main referral source was each other. Word on the street is often, “Go down to DCM – they’ll help you.” More – <Kāpiti and Coast Independent – The thinking persons’ newspaper (kapitiindependentnews.net.nz)> |
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