workshopS

STREAM: HOMELESSNESS RESPONSES
AND PREVENTION

Co-creating a gender analysis kete of knowledge for working with Women and Children

This workshop will bring participants together to share knowledge and generate ideas on what is working when it comes to supporting women experiencing homelessness and housing insecurity. An ideas generation session will contribute to the creation of guiding Pou, that will inform the development of a gender analysis kete of knowledge that will be available for the sector to use.

Facilitated by: Vic Crockford & Katerina Kupenga

Vic is the Project Director of the Coalition to End Women's Homelessness, and Director of communications and government relations consultancy, Heft. She is passionate about the right to housing and about shining a light on women's experiences of homelessness and housing insecurity and has worked with Community Housing Aotearoa, Te Matapihi, and Women's Refuge.

Kia ora, I'm Katerina Kupenga (Ngāti Porou | Te Whānau a Apanui), founder of AraHina Facilitation Consultancy. Internationally certified in Technology of Participation, AraHina supports groups in achieving their goals through focused, fun, and inspired facilitation grounded in te ao Māori.

DCM’s Journey to Tatai Aro: A Practice Framework for Safe, Responsive, and Whānau-Centered Care in the Homelessness Sector

This presentation will guide participants through DCM’s journey in developing the Tatai Aro Practice Framework, a comprehensive approach to supporting staff safety, well-being, and responsiveness while enhancing outcomes for whānau in the homelessness sector. Rooted in DCM’s core values and mission, Tatai Aro was designed collaboratively, weaving together DCM’s unique whānau-centered philosophy and the essential skills, knowledge, and systems required for effective practice.

Facilitated by: Natalia Cleland & Barrie Walker, DCM

Natalia Cleland is a Kaiarataki (Senior Leader) at DCM (Downtown Community Ministry) in Wellington. Natalia is a recognised leader in Wellington’s homelessness sector, celebrated for her pioneering leadership in developing one of the country’s first structured homelessness outreach approaches. With extensive experience, she has a deep understanding of homelessness dynamics and service delivery, focusing on an outreach model that promotes dignity, connection, and sustainable support. Known for her innovative, forward-thinking strategies, Natalia has shaped best practices in outreach and advocates tirelessly for policies that expand housing access and strengthen wrap-around services. Her commitment to collaborative advocacy positions her as a key voice in pushing for systemic changes to address root causes of housing instability. Her passion lies in strengthening the capability of frontline workers, teams, and organisations to deliver effective services.

Barrie Walker is a Kaiarataki Piki (Senior Leader) at DCM (Downtown Community Ministry) in Wellington. With over six years of experience in kaupapa Māori organisations dedicated to violence reduction and culturally safe social work, Barrie brings a deep commitment to supporting vulnerable communities through a values-based, whānau-centered approach.In his role, Barrie leads DCM’s Housing First and Sustaining Tenancy services with insight and compassion, ensuring services are delivered holistically and sustainably to achieve long-term stability for whānau. His combination of operational insight, dedication to kaupapa Māori principles, and commitment to service quality makes him an invaluable asset in achieving DCM's mission.

Enhancing positive outcomes for Rangatahi experiencing homelessness

During this session we will explore and highlight examples of rangatahi youth housing models including kaupapa Māori and kaupapa led youth housing models (Mā Te Huruhuru in Tamaki and Mana Services in Waikato). We will focus on what developing best practice looks like for Māori and Pasifika youth (Ola le Ola Aotearoa will be presenting the first Pasifika youth transitional housing model in Aotearoa) and what it takes to set up youth housing models for success. We will also hear from Jacquline Paul who is a Māori researcher with Generation Kainga and Puranga Kura. All of these organisations are part of Manaaki Rangatahi who will also be talking about their collective work to end youth homelessness in Aotearoa.

Facilitated by: Brook Turner, Bianca Johansen, Bill Peace, Mahia Joyce, Māhera Maihi, Jacqueline Paul

Brook is an experienced leader in systems change. His influence and impact spans from developing solutions to homelessness, to working on the issue of food sovereignty. Brook's charismatic and common-sense approach mean his work is always exhilarating and thought provoking.

Brook recently graduated with his master's degree in Applied Practice (Social Practice). Titled Self-determined Housing Choices for Young People Leaving the Care System, the thesis investigates the issue of homelessness amongst rangatahi while examining possible answers to what is a serious issue in Aotearoa New Zealand.Brook is also a foundation Trustee of Manaaki Rangatahi (Aotearoa's only youth homelessness collective).

Māhera Maihi and her charity Mā te Huruhuru have recently established a new youth homeless transitional facility for Mā te Huruhuru in South Auckland. This is part of her work helping Māori taitamariki escape from cycles of family violence, gangs, and poverty. Māhera’s work draws on her own lived experience and a phenomenal amount of determination and energy.

Jacqueline Paul (Ngāti Tūwharetoa, Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Kahungunu ki Heretaunga) is a Māori researcher at Pūrangakura Māori Research Centre. She has a background in landscape architecture and urban planning and is currently pursuing her Ph.D. in Urban Studies and Planning at MIT, examining Indigenous treaties, land rights, and housing across Aotearoa New Zealand, Turtle Island (United States), and Australia.

Mahia Joyce (Ngāti Raukawa ki te tonga, Ngāti Tuwharetoa, General Manager, Whare Āhuru, Mana Services). Mahia describes herself as a haututu with natural curiosity. She is a board member of Manaaki Rangatahi, currently coordinates Manaaki Rangatahi ki Waikato Collective and is deeply committed to supporting others in their journeys, knowing firsthand the power of having people who believe in you along the way.

Ko Bianca Johanson tōku ingoa, he mokopuna nō Te Rarawa me Muriwhenua, e mōhiotia ana ko Bee.

With over 26 years of experience in social work, healing, and education, I consider myself to be a skilled system disruptor.

As the tumu whakarae of Manaaki Rangatahi, I work with a collective striving to eliminate youth homelessness by addressing the root causes and barriers within systems. Together, we aim to create pathways that ensure every rangatahi has access to safe, stable housing. We believe in an Aotearoa where youth homelessness does not exist, we can together prevent and end youth homelessness.

Taitosaua William Peace is a New Zealand born Samoan crew up in South Auckland. He is a qualified social worker and has served the community for over 45 years in South Auckland primarily in Otara and Mangere through sports, church, community outreach, housing and youth development.

Bill is the Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer at ‘Ola Le Ola Aotearoa Trust’, a Pacific-led organisation . Ola le Ola Trust is opening the First Pasefika Youth Transitional Housing services in Aotearoa, based in Otara, Mangere and Franklin, delivering youth focussed - village centred services.

Evidencing impact of Housing First through lived experience

This Session will share Housing First Auckland lived experience research, how it has informed our programme design and is shaping an outcomes framework, and recent learnings from Finland.

Facilitated by: Awatea Hawke, Judy Matai'a & Clarielle Chang

Kia ora Koutou
Iwi Affiliation’s: Ngaati Whaatua O Tamaaki, Te Rarawa, Ngaati Whanaunga, Ngaati Apaakura.

As a Lived Experience Lead for Housing First, this role reflects my personal past experiences of transitioning from obscurity to inspire others along their own journey towards rebuilding their sense of identity, belonging and having their voice heard.

Judy Matai’a is Visionwest Waka Whakakitenga’s Director of Housing and Pasefika Development. Judy holds a master’s degree in social work, a Master of Business Administration (Hons) from Massey University, and an undergraduate degree from the University of Auckland. She has also completed the Global Women’s Breakthrough Leadership programme.

Judy has a strong commitment to social change and community development, through a Collective Impact approach. Judy was the Author of the research report on Pacific Peoples Participation in Governance in Aotearoa: ‘O le Ala i le Pule o le Tautua’ that was released in 2022. Judy of Samoan descent and her and husband Steve serve as church ministers in West Auckland.

As a business analyst with the Housing First Auckland backbone, Clarielle considers people being the centre of her work. With years of experience in leadership, customer insights and business intelligence, and a degree in psychology, she hopes to use her knowledge of people, data, and working collaboratively to inform policy and impact decisions, and to show the human behind the numbers.

Recognising Housing Loss & Exploring Innovative Support

Sharing the knowledge of two decades of working with people experiencing homelessness referred by Specialist Mental health Services. And workshopping a new approach in supporting long term housing insecure with a unique trauma informed "Ready to Rent" style approach.

Facilitated by: Annette Sutherland & Ben Atkinson, Comcare Trust

Annette Sutherland is the Housing Services Development and Innovation Manager at Comcare Trust in Otautahi/Christchurch. She has been involved for many years in developing and managing housing and housing services particularly targeted to those who experience mental illness addiction and trauma.

Ben Atkinson is the Housing Service Delivery Manager at Comcare Trust in Ōtautahi/Christchurch. He has experience across Social Enterprise, and lived experience in Homelessness and Mental Illness.