Last week, the Coalition to End Women’s Homelessness steering group came together for our strategy day. Back row from left: Caroline Herewini, Helen Robinson, Jill Hawkey. Front row from left: Victoria Crockford and Jo Cribb.

Kia ora,

As we reflect on the powerful kōrero sparked by International Women’s Day last month, we are reminded that we must continue the conversation - it must not stop there.

IWD is a platform to help build momentum that drives lasting change, amplifies the voices, and inspires collective action toward a more equitable future for all.

To build on this momentum, CEWH is hosting a panel of expert speakers to explore the critical intersections of women’s health, housing, and retirement. The event will be held on May 26 and will be online and in Auckland. We hope many of you can take part in this important conversation. More details can be found below.

Last week, the CEWH steering group—Victoria Crockford, Helen Robinson, Jill Hawkey, Caroline Herewini, and Jo Cribb came together for our strategy day. The energy was fantastic, and we’re excited about the work ahead.

One of the key focuses of our session was working on our spheres of influence and solidifying our intent and commitment to making significant strides in both policy and practice in 2025 and beyond.

Our overarching goal is to see key policy players routinely using gender analysis in their responses to homelessness, and for housing providers to integrate gender analysis into the development and implementation of their services.

To move forward with these goals, we are commissioning a gender analysis tool, which we aim to pilot alongside our sector partners later this year.

Stay tuned – we’ve got a lot more to come on this.

We wish acknowledge International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, observed in March. Caroline emphasised at our strategy hui that colonisation was the first injustice for wāhine Māori. Our research underscores this, showing that, for wāhine Māori, housing deprivation stems from colonial history and the mass confiscation of Māori land - raupatu.

Please help us spread the word and keep up momentum by encouraging others to sign up for our newsletter and follow us on LinkedIn.

Nāku noa,
Victoria Crockford
Project Director, Coalition to End Women’s Homelessness

NEWS AND VIEWS

Women’s Homelessness panel discussion, Monday 26 May

International Women’s Day has a long history of driving change, and this year’s theme was 'Accelerate Action.' We want to keep the conversation going beyond just one day.

Along with our partners, the Coalition to End Women’s Homelessness continues to seek progress and commitment from the government, to end women’s homelessness in Aotearoa.

Join Sharon Shea, Helen Robinson, Dr Jo Gamble and facilitator Amanda Kelly as we discuss the critical crossovers of women’s health, housing and retirement.

Kaupapa Māori public health specialist, Sharon Shea will be offering a mana wāhine lens within the context of te Tiriti, and reclaiming a mana wāhine narrative about rangatiratanga.

Dr. Jo Gamble will provide insights on financial well-being, with a particular focus on women's financial life journeys and the diverse experiences that shape their retirement years.

Hear from Helen Robinson about the findings of CEWH’s research report Ngā Ara ki te Kāinga: Understanding Barriers and Solutions to Women’s Homelessness, in which we seek clear promises and progress from the government.

Event location
Auckland City Mission - Te Tapui Atawhai, 140 Hobson Street, Auckland Central and online.

Time and date
Monday, 26 May 2025
6pm-7pm

To register for this event please follow this link or go to:
https://events.humanitix.com/women-s-homelessness-panel-discussion

For more information
Contact admin@cewh.org

A major milestone: Te Whare Nukunoa’s wāhine transition into their own homes

We are delighted to see Te Whare Nukunoa Wellington Homeless Women's Trust celebrating a huge recent success, with three of their wāhine transitioning into their own homes.

“Not one, but three of our wahine are transitioning into their own homes thanks to hard mahi and the collaboration and support of some of our government agencies and community. But most of all, through the determination of our wahine. Congratulations – you rock!,” they said.

*WHWT kaimahi celebrate with one of their wahine who is getting ready to move into her new home.*

CSW69

From 10–21 March, the New Zealand Government delegation participated in CSW69; the United Nations’ highest-level international forum on gender equality and women’s empowerment.

Caroline Herewini, who is a CEWH steering group member and Kaiwhakahaere at Te Whare Tiaki Wāhine Refuge, joined the delegation, sharing her expertise from 50 years in social justice.

Manatū Wāhine Ministry for Women commented that stepping into the General Assembly Hall on the first day was a special moment for the delegation.

“The week was full of listening, learning, and witnessing collective action for women’s equality and safety,” they said.

The UN Working Group to End Homelessness hosted a key side event at CSW69 on inclusive social policies, exploring the disproportionate impact of homelessness on women and girls and the need for gender-responsive solutions.

Helen Clark Foundation report on social cohesion in New Zealand

The Helen Clark Foundation has released a new report into social cohesion in New Zealand, comparing it to Australia. The report highlights the growing financial inequality in New Zealand, showing an increasing gap between those who are comfortable and those struggling to meet basic needs.

The report points to the dysfunction of New Zealand's housing market and the unaffordability of homes as major contributors to this inequality.

The link between financial inequality and women's homelessness is undeniable. Women, particularly solo mothers, Māori, and Pasifika women, are disproportionately affected by rising housing costs and inadequate welfare support. With JobSeeker benefits falling far short of covering basic living expenses, many women find themselves trapped in a cycle of poverty and unable to secure stable housing.

It's crucial that we rethink our approach to supports for solo mothers, ensuring that social safety nets provide real support for women and their families.

Our research shows that many severely housing deprived women are also sole parenting. The graph from our report demonstrates that a significantly greater proportion are receiving a benefit versus non-housing deprived women, including sole parent support.

The Christchurch City Mission sees growth in solo women and families living on the streets

In this Stuff article by Maddy Croad, outreach worker Josh Potter- Gardiner says the number of people living on the streets in Christchurch has surged in just one month, with nearly 60 new people living on the streets, including an 8-week-old baby living in a tent.

Potter-Gardiner says he has seen an increase in solo women and families living in dire conditions, such as a family of six in a portacom and a 75-year-old grandfather sleeping in a slide.

The article features the story of Dani, who has been sleeping rough for the past two months, finding shelter outside libraries and fast food outlets in Christchurch.

While clean from methamphetamine, Dani still uses synthetic drugs to sleep, a way to cope with the cold and uncertainty.

Despite everything, Dani remains hopeful. She’s on the housing register and believes she’ll only have to wait one more month. For now, she fights to stay strong, holding on to the hope of a better future.

POLICY AND POLITICAL INSIGHTS

Government Allocates $150 Million for Affordable Housing Through Community Housing Funding Agency

The government’s $150 million funding for community housing providers (CHPs) is a game changer, making affordable housing more accessible for those who need it most. This funding will help deliver an additional 1,000 social homes over the next year.

"This will lay the foundation for CHFA to borrow hundreds of millions or billions of dollars, supporting not just the delivery of social housing, but also CHPs' broader affordable housing portfolios," Minister of Housing Chris Bishop said.

For women facing homelessness—especially solo mothers, Māori, and Pasifika women—affordable housing is essential to break the cycle of poverty and insecurity. This investment will help CHPs provide more homes at lower rents, directly benefiting those most affected by the housing crisis.

Read about it on RNZ here.

This is an important step in tackling New Zealand’s homelessness problem and giving more women the opportunity for a safe, stable home.

And this investment must be complemented with work to strengthen emergency and transitional housing options. At the Coalition, we have argued strongly for a supported housing model that funds responsive, holistic supports for women and whānau. We believe that investing in that type of response at the same time as investing in more permanent homes is the key to enabling more success stories like the those from Te Whare Nukunoa.

He iti te mokoroa, nāna i kati te kahikatea

The grub may be small, but it cuts through the kahikatea

Vic, Helen, Jo, Caroline, and Jill