Homelessness. noun.
​
living situations where people with no other options to acquire safe and secure housing: are without shelter, in temporary accomodation, sharing accomodation with a household or living in uninhabitable housing
Statistics New Zealand 2014
I used to think our Ford Focus was spacious until I tried sleeping in it!
To remember those who are homeless in Hamilton and to educate our youth (and ourselves!!). An event for youth at Te Whare O te Ata in Fairfield, Hamilton was organised. It included discussions, real life stories, art, music, movies and food focused around homelessness in Aotearoa New Zealand. While most of the kids created sleeping areas out of what we could find, some of us adults slept in the our cars.
I didn’t expect to get much sleep, but I knew I’d learn a lot. And I think I learnt most about manaaki. I saw it leap from the hearts of the youth, as they offered ways of addressing homelessness. Their answers were eager, simple, creative, loving.
I saw manaaki in the signs written by the youth as they built their makeshift shelters. Their signs welcomed people in. It was in the care offered to one another so that we were safe while sleeping outside. We moved close to one another. And perhaps most of all, manaaki was in the stories shared in hope that all of us, and the youth as they grow, will always remember that manaaki can change a life, it can help you stand, bring you back from the brink, feed you and get you to where you need to go next.
I still have a lot to learn about manaaki, but for now I see it as our collective heartbeat - welcoming people closer so that we can all stand strong.
International environmentalist, Human Rights defender, and filmmaker from West Papua - Wensislaus Fatuban, introduced filmmaking as a means of helping people to tell their own story, helping others "understand us from us". Such inspiring work for young and older alike.
On our Doorstep
A voice for homeless youth
An AUT
student
production
Mark the
date
Put 10 October 2019
on your calendar as
World Homeless Day
Join in
Join in with an existing event in your area to raise awareness of homelessness
Create
If an event doesn't exist in your area, partner with others and create one
advocate
Keep informed about the reasons for homelessness in your area and advocate for change