Too many women in Aotearoa don’t have a safe or secure place to call home.

Our women are sleeping in cars or on couches to protect themselves from the risks of sleeping rough. Our women are returning to abusive relationships for their kids or because it's safer than the alternative. Our older women are priced out of a housing market that doesn't meet their incomes or their needs.

Yet we don’t have a government plan or ring-fenced funding.

The Coalition to End Women’s Homelessness has come together to change that. We’re doing the groundwork to build a national movement.

Will you join us?

Our commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi

At the heart of our work is a focus on redress for wāhine Māori, who are whare tangata - the house of the people.

Yet, so many are identified as “homeless” on the whenua / land from which their culture took root and has grown for nearly 1000 years. Therefore, while we use the commonly understood language of “homelessness”, we take the position that Aotearoa is home for Māori, so wāhine Māori are not without a home in Aotearoa but live unhoused due to a process of colonisation that has not protected their rights.

To uphold our commitment to redress:

  1. We acknowledge Te Tiriti o Waitangi as the founding document of Aotearoa.

  2. We recognise the status of Māori as tangata whenua of Aotearoa.

  3. We are committed to upholding Te Tiriti o Waitangi in all our work. 

  4. We are also committed to upholding te tino rangatiratanga and mana motuhake o tangata Māori, and we stand against all forms of oppression.

Our Coalition


  • Project Director

    Victoria (Vic) brought the Coalition together to address a gap she observed as a previous CEO of Community Housing Aotearoa.

Image of a Pākehā woman with grey hair. She is smiling and standing against a backdrop of a tree in blossom.


  • Steering Committee

    Jill is the Executive Director of Christchurch Methodist Mission, providing social services, homes for older people through Wesley Village, affordable rentals, transitional housing, and Housing First in Christchurch, Blenheim, and Greymouth. She is a previous Director of Christian World Service.


  • Steering Committee

    Helen is the Manutaki / CEO of Auckland City Missioner and has a wealth of experience in social services and a deep commitment to seeing all women safe, nourished, and well-housed.

  • Steering Committee

    Jo is the Chair of Te Whare Nukunoa - Wellington Homeless Women's Trust. A professional Director and advisor, she was the youngest CE of a government Ministry ever appointed when she led the Ministry for Women. She has worked for women and children her whole career.


  • Steering Committee

    Caroline (MNZM) is the Kaiwhakahaere at Te Whare Tiaki Wāhine Refuge in Porirua. She has 50 years experience in social justice and working to end all forms of violence towards women and children in Aotearoa.

Our Partners

Clare Foundation

Clare is a progressive philanthropic organisation that wants more for our people and planet. Clare impacts in ways that positively impact our environment, oral health, youth wellbeing and women to create extraordinary change.

JR McKenzie Trust

JR McKenzie Trust is is a philanthropic family trust that has been grantmaking in Aotearoa New Zealand since 1940. They make grants according to their four pou: Te Pou Māori; Poutu Pasefika; Pou Whānau; Pou CaRE.

Additional Supporting Partners

Sign up to our Newsletter

Sign up with your email address to receive news and updates.