June 14, 2016
Marae stitches deal with social housing ministry
The chair of Te Puea Marae says he’s happy with the support he’s getting from the social housing minister for the marae’s homeless programme.
Paula Bennett was criticised for refusing to visit the south Auckland marae, but she did meet with Hurimoana Dennis elsewhere last week.
He says in the three weeks since the marae threw open its doors to the homeless it has done 55 assessments on the needs of families or couples and placed 26 in state houses, motels or with people who have offered space.
Another 30 or so people are staying in the marae.
Mr Dennis told Radio Waatea host Willie Jackson that the marae agreed to work in partnership with Ms Bennett’s office.
"The marae would remain the front door for social provision. They seem to be happy coming our way. They will provide us with some bums on chairs here at the marae, these are the social workers to help with our assessments and placements and we get access to some of these transitional houses when they make them available and hopefully that is this week," he says.
The marae doesn’t need cash from the ministry at the moment because of the donations coming in, but the whanau in its kitchen could do with some time off if replacement volunteers can be found.
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