Kara co-manages two of the Mission’s three transitional housing services – James Liston Hostel and Union Street. 

At all our transitional housing sites, we support people to make the challenging transition from homelessness to permanent housing. For many people, the move to permanent housing will be the first time they have rented a home, paid bills, or even cooked for themselves. 

People live at the residential sites for 12 weeks or longer, where they receive wraparound support to help them get house ready and to find a safe, permanent home.  

“Everything we do here is getting street whānau ready for permanent housing” explains Kara. The team puts in place individual plans that could include organising ID or income support, accessing mental health services or connecting with budgeting support. 

“Our team will advocate so strongly to find housing for them.” 

Once people have been housed, the transitional housing team will continue to support them for a further 12 weeks. 

“When they get housed, we will be with them a lot. Because they’re scared that they’re going to lose their property, that they’re going to do something wrong. We do the best we can to support whānau to sustain their tenancy.”   

“Our key workers, they’re amazing. They want the best for the whānau. That’s why I love coming here every day because I get to work with these guys!” 

The highlight for Kara is seeing residents transform during their time in transitional housing.  

“When they come in, they’re quiet, they’re reserved, they don’t want to engage, they have nobody. And then they become whānau! Two of our residents were basically hanging out all the time, but both struggling to find one-bedroom homes, so they ended up moving in together. And now they’re working full time, they’re living their best lives. Those are the moments which warm my heart.”