Inner-city Auckland people needing emergency housing - Annual Report 2019/20
MSD partners with non-government organisations (NGOs) and the private sector to provide emergency housing to people in immediate need.
MSD, Lifewise and other NGOs in Auckland knew it was critical that people who were displaced or became homeless in the inner city had a safe haven when New Zealand was going into COVID-19 lockdown.
“It’s hard to capture all the hard, amazing mahi during the lockdown, especially how well we all worked together – MSD, Lifewise and the designated motel,” said Justine from Lifewise.
Merge Community – a team within Lifewise that works with Auckland’s homeless – gathered people to do the whānau engagement, collate information and work with one point of contact at MSD, an integrated services case manager (ISCM).
The ISCM provided an end-to-end service, getting people’s housing grants quickly approved and co-ordinating with the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development to fi nd motels willing to house people at short notice.
Lifewise provided food, took the whānau to the motel, and most days did a check-in and supported people with their other needs. They supported 52 people during the lockdown. In July, Lifewise was able to put 18 of these people into permanent housing through Housing First, a HUD programme.
"It was really all hands on deck to get this done in a few days." – Justine from Lifewise
