As mentioned in my last blog post, I cam
completing my international field placement interning at The Lifewise Trust, focusing on areas of housing and homelessness,
mental health and addiction, community and land development, and
infrastructure. My placement has provided me with diverse opportunities to take
my learnings from the office, to the streets, and to be welcomed by whānau into
their communities. The time I’ve spent with whānau has been impactful, and has
been a personal journey as much as an academic one for me.
In choosing my field placement, I wanted to
pursue my passions, and continue to learn and grow in the field of housing and
homelessness. Having focused my Major Research Project on on-reserve housing in Canada,
and through my involvement with the Institute for Urban Studies (IUS) at the
UW, my Supervisor, Dr. Jino Distasio was pivotal in supporting me to pursue my
placement in Tamaki, and in connecting me with the Lifewise Trust. The IUS and
Lifewise share a common thread of Housing First (HF), as Lifewise has modelled
their program after that of Winnipeg’s and looks to Canada as a leader in HF,
especially given Winnipeg’s Indigenous focus.
As mentioned by the Ministry of Housing and
Urban Development, “HF was launched in Auckland with Government and Auckland
Council funding in March 2017, and expanded to Christchurch, Tauranga and
Hamilton in 2018”. HF is offered in multiple cities and areas in Aotearoa,
including and Rotorua (where I completed my placement). HF is an international
approach to solve social issues of housing and homelessness, recognizing that
if we are to solve the issue of homelessness, we need to put people first. This
approach supports individuals with multiple, high, and complex needs, knowing
that when people are housed, they can be supported to address their complex
needs.
During my placement, I had the chance to
learn from HF whānau, Peer Support Leaders, Key Workers and Senior
Practitioners in both Tamaki (Auckland) and Rotorua. I’m grateful to have been
included in home visits, tenant lease agreements, home inspections, housing
workshops & meetings, radio and tv interviews, and days spent shadowing
these wonderful teams.
It was very interesting for me to note the similarities
and differences in HF delivery internationally (between Canada and Aotearoa)
and also within Aotearoa. The strength of HF comes from its ability to be
localized and adapted to meet the needs of the people. For example, in Canada,
the city of Toronto implemented an Anti-racism/Anti-oppression intervention,
whereas there was an Indigenous-focused, trauma-informed intervention. I was
able to see the differences in localization of HF in Tamaki and Rotorua (which
are considerably closer than Winnipeg and Toronto), and because of the history,
community ties, geography, and the ways in which relationships were present in
these cities, their deliveries were also diverse. Rotorua HF is a partnership
between Lifewise, Te Taumata O Ngāti Whakaue Iho Ake Trust and LinkPeople,
making it the first Iwi-led Housing First Collective in Aotearoa, grounded in a
kaupapa Māori approach.
As I reach the end of my placement, I am
looking forward to returning to Rotorua to return to friends, help with
preparations for The Big Sleep Out, and
participate in this great event. I’ve spent quality time with Housing First
Rotorua and I’ve seen firsthand how they are changing lives - beyond meeting
immediate needs, but letting whānau lead & giving them a chance to thrive. I
can’t think of a better way to celebrate this time here than spending a night
with whānau, coming together over kai and stories, and raising awareness and
funds for this community, supporting them in their community-driven work.
Aroha nui.
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