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Downtown Community Ministry / August 2019

The Downtown Community Ministry (DCM) gives down to earth support to individuals and families.

September 2019 | June 2019
    • Update from DCM - Together We Can End Homelessness
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line-height:150% !important; } } @media only screen and (max-width: 480px){ .headerContainer .mcnTextContent,.headerContainer .mcnTextContent p{ font-size:16px !important; line-height:150% !important; } } @media only screen and (max-width: 480px){ .bodyContainer .mcnTextContent,.bodyContainer .mcnTextContent p{ font-size:16px !important; line-height:150% !important; } } @media only screen and (max-width: 480px){ .footerContainer .mcnTextContent,.footerContainer .mcnTextContent p{ font-size:14px !important; line-height:150% !important; } } Help us celebrate our 50th birthday This year, DCM is celebrating 50 years of working in the city of Wellington to “focus on the needs of, and to help empower, those marginalised in the city” (DCM Constitution, 1969). This month we held our 24th annual, fundraising Bookfair, which was another huge success for DCM, with large numbers of book-lovers coming to support our work to end homelessness in Wellington. Thank you for your support of this important event - we look forward to sharing our final tally with you soon. Next month we look forward to a special photographic exhibition focussing on the many individuals and groups within our city who are very much part of our work. The exhibition will feature 50 different images, each reflecting the contribution of one kaitautoko (supporter) group, business or individual. A number of different Wellington photographers will contribute these images, and the celebration will again be a coming together of the people of Wellington to acknowledge and reconfirm our collective commitment to ending homelessness in our city. Make a note in your diaries – plan to head down to Photospace to see the beautiful images and learn more about the amazing people in your community who are part of this vision. DCM 50th Birthday Photo Exhibition 14-28 September 2019 Mon-Sat 10am-4pm Photospace Gallery 1st floor, 37 Courtenay Place Wellington <!-- --> DCM’s Dental Service gives “lives back” This month we share the story of one of DCM's amazing supporters, our dental assistant Emily Kremmer. Emily has a full-time job and is in full-time study, but she still finds time to volunteer down at DCM, where she helps take away pain and rebuild lives. Thursday is Emily Kremmer’s “free day” – at least it’s the day she’s not at her job with Wellington Periodontics or studying for her degree in public relations and communications. But this 22-year-old dental assistant spends most of her free day in the dental treatment room at DCM. For 50 years DCM has been supporting Wellington’s most marginalised, with a focus on ending homelessness in the capital. In the first instance that’s about getting people without permanent housing into a home, then DCM supports them to stay there, to learn to manage their money and look after their new whare. But it’s also very much about addressing their physical and mental health issues, including their dental health. That’s why in March 2016, in partnership with the Wellington branch of the New Zealand Dental Association, DCM began operating a fully equipped dental treatment room, staffed by dental professionals. While the dentists volunteer their time, the dental assistants may be paid or choose to volunteer. Emily – who began with a monthly shift in August 2018 but lately has been coming every week – says she’s happy to take no payment for her hours. “I really enjoy it, and it keeps me busy. I think I’d waste my day off. I work better with something to structure my day around,” she says. The people DCM works with – who they call ‘taumai’, which means ‘to settle’ – usually have little opportunity to look after their teeth and gums, so nearly all who come into DCM’s dental service are in pain. “I love taking that pain away. As soon as you numb them up, you just see them relax,” says Emily. “And when you’re taken out that painful tooth or cleaned up their gums, they’re so grateful. One patient we had in the other day said, ‘I feel like a new man. You’ve given me back my life. I feel fantastic’, so it’s really great to feel you’re making a difference. “They often ask if we’re paid, and when we say, ‘No, we’re just here to help you,’ they’re amazed. They feel like someone cares about them and values them.” Much of the work they do, Emily says, is extractions and perio-work, with the odd filling, rather than root canals and crowns. “In general dentistry, you try to keep the real tooth as much as possible but here you need to be more realistic. There’s no point in doing a root canal if the patient can’t afford the crown. A lot of our patients here don’t have access to toothbrushes and toothpaste – although we offer them these things when they leave – so we help them in a way that’s best for them. There’s a lot of calculus build-up to scrape off, which is really satisfying!” Aside from that, the Dental Service at DCM runs just like an ordinary dental clinic, she says. Emily works from 8:30am until 1:30 on days that suit her, and is very satisfied with the clinic. “Everything runs well here. It’s super well-labelled, so it’s quick and easy to find things. There’s a new steri-room and a surgery with everything we need – ultrasonic scalers, x-ray machines, very new sterilizer and bar code scanner to keep track of sterile items and equipment. “The people here at DCM are also great. So smiley and welcoming. You never feel like you’re walking into someone else’s workplace. They treat us in the Dental Service like we’re one of the family. We take part in the daily waiata and karakia that begins each day, and they even give us lunch!” While Emily works at DCM every week, most of the dentists she assists volunteer less frequently, so she values that she works alongside lots of different people. “I have learnt a lot and I’ve become really adaptable because I need to be able to work with anyone and deal with any situation. Because I meet so many dentists, I feel strongly like I’m part of the Wellington dentist community. I don’t have plans to move onto being a hygienist or dentist but if you’re a DA who has ambitions to become a dentist, there’s a real benefit to working here.” What Emily does plan to do is get involved in dental health promotion or work for a not-for-profit organisation when she finishes her communications and marketing degree. “But I hope I’ll still be able do this because I really, really enjoy it.” An obvious thought might be, isn’t it a bit smelly working with people who live in less than ideal conditions? “Sometimes, a bit,” she answers. “But you get smelly people in private practice too. And their stories are so interesting. While some are reserved and want to get out the door as soon as they leave the chair, some are really chatty and you learn all sorts of things about them. You meet so many people you’d never meet in your normal life.” And a really good thing – they don’t complain. “In private dentistry people often complain a lot about any discomfort, but these people don’t. I think they’re used to a level of discomfort and they’ve all been living with pain for such a long time that their tolerance and resilience is high. And again, they’re just so grateful for your help so they sit in the chair and let you do your job. I haven’t heard a complaint from anyone since I’ve been here.” Emily says it’s definitely changed the way she sees people sleeping or begging on the street. “Especially if I see them drinking. One patient said to me, ‘I’ve been drinking to manage the pain’. Now if I see someone drinking, I think it may be because they’ve got a sore mouth, or toothache, or gum disease that’s not manageable.” In all, Emily Kremmer highly recommends other dentists and dental assistants offer their time at DCM’s Dental Service. “It’s very easy to work here. You give whatever time you have, whenever your want – once a month, or even less if that’s all you can do. You’re given a full orientation and lots of support while you work here.  “What we do at the Dental Service is humbling and rewarding. And – at the heart of it – we do really good dentistry.” <!-- --> Please help us get the message out there! Forward this email on to everyone you can think of who may be interested in books, how to respond to homelessness, photography and just generally people who are passionate about Wellington. Because together we CAN end homelessness in our city. <!-- --> Read More Success Stories Nāku te rourou, nāu te rourou, ka ora ai te iwi With your basket and my basket, the people will thrive <!-- --> Copyright © 2019 DCM. All rights reserved. Our mailing address is: DCMPO Box 6133Marion SqWellington, Wellington 6011 New ZealandAdd us to your address book Want to change how you receive these emails? 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    • July Update from DCM - Together We Can End Homelessness
      • 96 July Update from DCM - Together We Can End Homelessness p{ margin:10px 0; padding:0; } table{ border-collapse:collapse; } h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6{ display:block; margin:0; padding:0; } img,a img{ border:0; height:auto; outline:none; text-decoration:none; } body,#bodyTable,#bodyCell{ height:100%; margin:0; padding:0; width:100%; } .mcnPreviewText{ display:none !important; } #outlook a{ padding:0; } img{ -ms-interpolation-mode:bicubic; } table{ mso-table-lspace:0pt; mso-table-rspace:0pt; } .ReadMsgBody{ width:100%; } .ExternalClass{ width:100%; } p,a,li,td,blockquote{ mso-line-height-rule:exactly; } a[href^=tel],a[href^=sms]{ color:inherit; cursor:default; text-decoration:none; } p,a,li,td,body,table,blockquote{ -ms-text-size-adjust:100%; -webkit-text-size-adjust:100%; } .ExternalClass,.ExternalClass p,.ExternalClass td,.ExternalClass div,.ExternalClass span,.ExternalClass font{ line-height:100%; } a[x-apple-data-detectors]{ color:inherit !important; text-decoration:none !important; 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text-align:left; } #templateHeader{ background-color:#0f288b; background-image:none; background-repeat:no-repeat; background-position:50% 50%; background-size:cover; border-top:0; border-bottom:0; padding-top:54px; padding-bottom:54px; } .headerContainer{ background-color:transparent; background-image:none; background-repeat:no-repeat; background-position:center; background-size:cover; border-top:0; border-bottom:0; padding-top:0; padding-bottom:0; } .headerContainer .mcnTextContent,.headerContainer .mcnTextContent p{ color:#757575; font-family:Helvetica; font-size:16px; line-height:150%; text-align:left; } .headerContainer .mcnTextContent a,.headerContainer .mcnTextContent p a{ color:#007C89; font-weight:normal; text-decoration:underline; } #templateBody{ background-color:#transparent; background-image:none; background-repeat:no-repeat; background-position:center; background-size:cover; border-top:0; border-bottom:0; padding-top:27px; padding-bottom:54px; } .bodyContainer{ background-color:transparent; background-image:none; background-repeat:no-repeat; background-position:center; background-size:cover; border-top:0; border-bottom:0; padding-top:0; padding-bottom:0; } .bodyContainer .mcnTextContent,.bodyContainer .mcnTextContent p{ color:#757575; font-family:Helvetica; font-size:16px; line-height:150%; text-align:left; } .bodyContainer .mcnTextContent a,.bodyContainer .mcnTextContent p a{ color:#007C89; font-weight:normal; text-decoration:underline; } #templateFooter{ background-color:#333333; background-image:none; background-repeat:no-repeat; background-position:center; background-size:cover; border-top:0; border-bottom:0; padding-top:45px; padding-bottom:63px; } .footerContainer{ background-color:transparent; background-image:none; background-repeat:no-repeat; background-position:center; background-size:cover; border-top:0; border-bottom:0; padding-top:0; padding-bottom:0; } .footerContainer .mcnTextContent,.footerContainer .mcnTextContent p{ color:#FFFFFF; font-family:Helvetica; font-size:12px; line-height:150%; text-align:center; } .footerContainer .mcnTextContent a,.footerContainer .mcnTextContent p a{ color:#FFFFFF; font-weight:normal; text-decoration:underline; } @media only screen and (min-width:768px){ .templateContainer{ width:600px !important; } } @media only screen and (max-width: 480px){ body,table,td,p,a,li,blockquote{ -webkit-text-size-adjust:none !important; } } @media only screen and (max-width: 480px){ body{ width:100% !important; min-width:100% !important; } } @media only screen and (max-width: 480px){ .mcnRetinaImage{ max-width:100% !important; } } @media only screen and (max-width: 480px){ .mcnImage{ width:100% !important; } } @media only screen and (max-width: 480px){ .mcnCartContainer,.mcnCaptionTopContent,.mcnRecContentContainer,.mcnCaptionBottomContent,.mcnTextContentContainer,.mcnBoxedTextContentContainer,.mcnImageGroupContentContainer,.mcnCaptionLeftTextContentContainer,.mcnCaptionRightTextContentContainer,.mcnCaptionLeftImageContentContainer,.mcnCaptionRightImageContentContainer,.mcnImageCardLeftTextContentContainer,.mcnImageCardRightTextContentContainer,.mcnImageCardLeftImageContentContainer,.mcnImageCardRightImageContentContainer{ max-width:100% !important; width:100% !important; } } @media only screen and (max-width: 480px){ .mcnBoxedTextContentContainer{ min-width:100% !important; } } @media only screen and (max-width: 480px){ .mcnImageGroupContent{ padding:9px !important; } } @media only screen and (max-width: 480px){ .mcnCaptionLeftContentOuter .mcnTextContent,.mcnCaptionRightContentOuter .mcnTextContent{ padding-top:9px !important; } } @media only screen and (max-width: 480px){ .mcnImageCardTopImageContent,.mcnCaptionBottomContent:last-child .mcnCaptionBottomImageContent,.mcnCaptionBlockInner .mcnCaptionTopContent:last-child .mcnTextContent{ padding-top:18px !important; } } @media only screen and (max-width: 480px){ .mcnImageCardBottomImageContent{ padding-bottom:9px !important; } } @media only screen and (max-width: 480px){ .mcnImageGroupBlockInner{ padding-top:0 !important; padding-bottom:0 !important; } } @media only screen and (max-width: 480px){ .mcnImageGroupBlockOuter{ padding-top:9px !important; padding-bottom:9px !important; } } @media only screen and (max-width: 480px){ .mcnTextContent,.mcnBoxedTextContentColumn{ padding-right:18px !important; padding-left:18px !important; } } @media only screen and (max-width: 480px){ .mcnImageCardLeftImageContent,.mcnImageCardRightImageContent{ padding-right:18px !important; padding-bottom:0 !important; padding-left:18px !important; } } @media only screen and (max-width: 480px){ .mcpreview-image-uploader{ display:none !important; width:100% !important; } } @media only screen and (max-width: 480px){ h1{ font-size:30px !important; line-height:125% !important; } } @media only screen and (max-width: 480px){ h2{ font-size:26px !important; line-height:125% !important; } } @media only screen and (max-width: 480px){ h3{ font-size:20px !important; line-height:150% !important; } } @media only screen and (max-width: 480px){ h4{ font-size:18px !important; line-height:150% !important; } } @media only screen and (max-width: 480px){ .mcnBoxedTextContentContainer .mcnTextContent,.mcnBoxedTextContentContainer .mcnTextContent p{ font-size:14px !important; line-height:150% !important; } } @media only screen and (max-width: 480px){ .headerContainer .mcnTextContent,.headerContainer .mcnTextContent p{ font-size:16px !important; line-height:150% !important; } } @media only screen and (max-width: 480px){ .bodyContainer .mcnTextContent,.bodyContainer .mcnTextContent p{ font-size:16px !important; line-height:150% !important; } } @media only screen and (max-width: 480px){ .footerContainer .mcnTextContent,.footerContainer .mcnTextContent p{ font-size:14px !important; line-height:150% !important; } } Arthur...one year on Arthur is one of DCM’s many success stories. Remember his story - which you all enjoyed so much? Arthur was delighted to have his own whare after months of being without shelter. He was housed in Naenae, and despite some reservations about living outside central Wellington, he now describes it as “Like being in the country.” DCM’s support extended beyond getting Arthur into his own whare. He was supported through the DCM Dental Service to get a new set of teeth, and DCM’s volunteer audiologist treated him so he was able to hear much better. “DCM helped me with pretty much everything,” Arthur says. “They gave me food parcels, supported me to get my license back and got a copy of my birth certificate.” Another important support DCM was able to offer was to visit Arthur in his whare to make sure everything was going OK. Arthur has now been housed for a full year, and on his one year anniversary DCM staff dropped by with a gift and a card signed by the whole team. We are so proud of the progress he has made. “My whare is going well. I’ve been able to connect with my daughter and grand kids, and have met some new friends. I get along with my neighbours too – on both sides.” Arthur still comes in to Wellington from time to time, but he calls Naenae home, and he's proud to play a part in his community. As Arthur says, “Everything is better having your own place!” <!-- --> Support DCM at our 24th annual Bookfair DCM's iconic annual Bookfair will be held on Saturday 17 August, Shed 6, 8am-6pm. This will be our 24th fundraising Bookfair. Over the years Wellingtonians have spent well over $2 million buying books – money that goes straight to funding DCM’s work with people who are experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness. Preparations for the Bookfair start just after Easter each year. That’s when a small army of volunteers begins sorting, pricing and boxing books. Wellington has been generous to us this year, and we look forward to offering some 70,000 books at this year's Bookfair. To get the word out we rely on a team of 'publicity blitz' volunteers, and you will have hopefully seen our DCM Bookfair flyers, posters and signs up all around Wellington. It is not too late to help us get the word out - please drop by DCM one week day to pick up some flyers and posters for your community, school or workplace. You can also help us online. Join our Facebook event where we are featuring a 'Category of the Week'. And DCM is now on Instagram - follow us @dcm_wellington and look out for our 'Book of the Day'. <!-- --> Help us celebrate our 50th birthday In September DCM will be celebrating our 50th birthday with a photo exhibition, highlighting the amazing support you, the people of Wellington, provide us with. Please mark the dates in your diary and plan to be involved. Because together we can end homelessness in our city! <!-- --> Donating time, not sandwiches This article by Lee-Anne Duncan appeared in the July edition of North & South. Photo (above) by Victoria Birkinshaw. At DCM, every day begins with waiata and karakia. Outside the red double doors, a couple of dozen people stand in a circle, holding the lyrics on printouts, as a guitar-playing DCM social worker leads the singing. Half the singers are DCM staff, along with the day’s dentist and dental assistant, an ophthalmologist, and a Wellington City Council Local Host, there to check in about a newly arrived rough sleeper. Completing the circle are what DCM calls “taumai” – meaning ‘to settle’ – the people most organisations more clinically call “service users”. But there’s nothing clinical about the services DCM provides. When it first opened its doors back in 1969, then known as the Inner City Ministry, later becoming Downtown Community Ministry, DCM’s mission was clear – to “focus on the needs of, and help to empower, those marginalised in the city”. An ever-increasing squeeze on housing means that's more acute than ever, as DCM marks its 50th year.  The singing over, the karakia delivered, the taumai climb the stairs to Te Hāpai, meaning to lift up, a place where they can have a hot drink, some donated food, and kōrero with other taumai and DCM’s social workers. They’re genuinely welcome. “This is where people come seeking support, connection and community,” says DCM’s director of 15 years, Stephanie McIntyre. “We do all we can to give them a voice, to be heard, to be lifted up. But it is about so much more than this.” Where the instinct to help those experiencing homelessness is to hand out food, blankets, clothes – all temporary comforts – DCM is focused on dealing with the underlying causes. “More than 1200 taumai come through our doors each year. Of those, some 275 are without shelter, sleeping rough,” says McIntyre. “We focus on getting them into housing as a first step. That done, for all our taumai, we support them to sustain their tenancies and we set out on a journey together to greater wellbeing.” About half DCM’s services are backed by government or Wellington City Council funding, including an outreach programme, where social workers visit those rough sleeping or begging, ensuring they’re connected to social services and encouraging them into DCM. The other half comes from donations and fundraising, undertaken by Wellingtonians generous with their money and their time.  In Shelly Bay, a legion of volunteers is counting and sorting books ready for the upcoming DCM Bookfair (17 August), DCM’s major annual fundraiser. Many have given their time year after year. Around the city, volunteer photographers are capturing images for a photo exhibition to mark DCM’s 50th birthday this September. Back at DCM, in one of the organisation’s two treatment rooms, Paul, a retired ophthalmologist, is helping taumai see properly. “Sometimes with a few minutes of Paul’s time and a $5 pair of Warehouse glasses, our taumai leave able to see again. How amazing is that?” asks McIntyre. When Paul is not there, Jeff, a neighbouring physiotherapist, donates his time to ease the aches of sleeping rough, and Lisa, an audiologist, tests hearing, cleans ears and fits donated hearing aids. They’re all life-changing services offered gratis by skilled professionals, but potentially the most impactful is the relief dispensed by DCM’s Dental Service, with the backing of the Wellington branch of the New Zealand Dental Association. Dental Assistant Emily Kremmer gives five hours of her time once a week, despite working full time for a periodontist and studying for a communications degree. “It’s so humbling and rewarding to volunteer here. You take away their pain and get so much gratitude in return. One man we worked on the other day said, ‘I’m a new man, I feel fantastic’. I am really busy but I’ve no plans to stop volunteering. I learn so much working here.” “We have adopted the tagline ‘Together, we can end homelessness in Wellington’,” says McIntyre. “For our 50th anniversary we’re emphasising the ‘together’ part. Donating time or money is an effective way to help end homelessness.  It’s certainly a more effective way to be part of the solution than by handing over a sandwich.” <!-- --> Please help us get the message out there! Forward this email on to everyone you can think of who may be interested in books, how to respond to homelessness, photography and just generally people who are passionate about Wellington. Because together we CAN end homelessness in our city. <!-- --> Read More Success Stories Nāku te rourou, nāu te rourou, ka ora ai te iwi With your basket and my basket, the people will thrive <!-- --> Copyright © 2019 DCM. All rights reserved. Our mailing address is: DCMPO Box 6133Marion SqWellington, Wellington 6011 New ZealandAdd us to your address book Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.
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