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Downtown Community Ministry / December 2020

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

January 2021 | November 2020
    • December Update from DCM
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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; } } Together we can end homelessness Ngā mihi o te tau hou Over the holiday period, our kaimahi (staff) have been reflecting on the very unusual year which 2020 has been, and have been looking ahead to 2021. We asked some of them to share a special moment from 2020. We check in with two of them here; have a look at our Facebook page to hear from more of our team. Natalia Natalia, leader of our Outreach team, on the beach with her dog Scout. Photo by Hayley Trenwith One highlight or special moment from 2020 For about a year, I chatted with a man in Te Hāpai who was rough sleeping in the bush, had been living that way for years and had no intention of changing that. For one reason or another, he decided that he no longer wanted to come in to the DCM building, but was still OK to talk to me on the street or in the bush where he lived. He was adamant that he didn't want to live any other way and would shut down any conversations about housing. I started to think that maybe he was one of the exceptional few that really, truly don't want to be housed. Then about a month ago, he came into DCM and asked to see me. It was the first time he'd stepped inside our building in almost two years. He came to ask me to help him find housing. That was one of the most significant moments for me this year and in fact, over my whole time at DCM. It showed me that persevering in building relationships with our taumai, even if that relationship building goes at a snail's pace, is a worthwhile investment. It also showed me, again, that we have to get this idea out of our head that people don't want to be housed. What are your hopes and dreams for our taumai and our mahi in 2021? Linked to my moment, I'd love to see DCM continue to be leaders in messaging to Wellingtonians and New Zealanders that the homeless people we see, and don't see, want, need and deserve permanent housing. That they want good things for their lives, they want to be settled, they want to thrive and be part of communities. I would also love to see our Wellington City Council outreach contract renewed. And for taumai, well, my hopes and dreams for them - other than every single one of them being offered permanent housing - I'd love to see people finding meaning and purpose, to realise they are worthy of good things, are accepted and loved. In 2021, we also want to support them to find communities where they feel safe and have opportunities to learn something new, share a skill or be an encourager or supporter for someone else's journey. Emily Emily, our lead Dental Assistant. One highlight or special moment from 2020   A highlight for me this year has been seeing the DCM dental service grow with several new dentists and dental assistants - meaning we can offer more taumai the care they need. It's a very uplifting experience for everyone involved. Taking away people's pain, transforming broken and decayed teeth, or cleaning away sometimes decades of calculus build up - it still warms my heart so much to be part of this service.   What are your hopes and dreams for our taumai and our mahi in 2021?   I have high hopes for DCM capitalising on the amazing mahi that was done this year. While this year's lock-down was very difficult for the country, it was inspiring to see the opportunities it created for taumai. It will be wonderful to see this progress continue. For the DCM dental service, I still dream of even more dental staff and volunteers so we can help as many taumai as regularly as possible. I hope the current government's election promise of increased dental benefits from $300 a year per person to $1000 will be fulfilled; this would be a huge positive for the oral and overall health of our taumai, and the continued improvement of the DCM dental service. Bronwyn Bronwyn (right) is Clinic Lead at Te Aro Health (TAHC). Te Aro Health is committed to providing high quality, low cost health care for vulnerable Wellingtonians. They have 1200 enrolled patients, and operate a satellite clinic at DCM. One highlight or special moment from 2020 I valued our collaboration with DCM, especially through lock-down. What we achieved together was huge - DCM supported us so we could get into taumai accommodation to do those important health checks, and flu vaccines ahead of winter. At a time when other health services were closed, we were out there, identifying people at risk and connecting with them. And we did it collectively. What are your hopes and dreams for 2021?   In 2021 Te Aro Health is hoping to have more staff, especially another nurse practitioner to add to the value of our outreach clinics. We only have two prescribers who can complete medical certificates. We always want to do more, but we need more staff capacity. This is our goal for the year ahead. Henry Henry joined team DCM this year. One highlight or special moment from 2020 Housing an elderly couple into their first permanent home here in Wellington - both of them with varied health, mental, physical and personal challenges, including very strong views about not being housed. However after eventually getting them to view a potential unit, their whole demeanour changed, they were able to envision themselves living there for a very long time and eventually moved in. Another highlight was supporting a taumai with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD), which comes with other social issues, to obtain permanent housing. He is immensely grateful and appreciative of his whare and very determined to not to do anything to lose it. All three of these people will begin 2021 settled in their own home. How special is that? What are your hopes and dreams for our taumai and our mahi in 2021? For our taumai to have a sense of belonging, worthiness, identity, purpose and belief… “The best is yet to come!” And as for our mahi - to continue with our goal of “working together to end homelessness”. As we go in to the new year, 2021, Wellington, let’s all commit to “doing whatever it takes!” <!-- --> Thinking about changing jobs in 2021? Would you like to join team DCM? Read Alex's story, 'I absolutely love working at DCM'. And for more info on our jobs available visit our website. <!-- --> Please help us get the message out there! Forward this email on to everyone you can think of who may be interested in how to respond to homelessness, and just generally people who are passionate about Wellington. <!-- --> Support DCM! Nāku te rourou, nāu te rourou, ka ora ai te iwi With your basket and my basket, the people will thrive <!-- --> Copyright © 2020 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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