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National | Homeless

Manurewa Marae opens doors to homeless 'for the community's sake'

Today, Manurewa Marae opened its doors today to help those in need of emergency accommodation.

They will not only house families in the marae, but also in portable housing.

“We've opened our doors for the community's sake,” says Manurewa Marae board member Tūnuiarangi McLean, “We opened our doors when Te Puea Marae began to shelter people. But this recent opening is for our community.”

As part of its Whakapiki Ora project, the marae will help families in need of emergency accommodation.

Portable housing has been brought in to help with numbers.

“As part of Pō Mārie, the marae will be open to families, people with kids, who can come every night to sleep, eat, and wash,” says McLean, “98 people can stay in the marae.  In our second enterprise, we have sited cabins on the marae.  30 people can stay in those who are working alongside government agencies.   In the third, we can house 10 men. So more than 100 people can stay here at one time.”

Many families checked in today, mostly with babies in tow.

“We've seen families with kids and parents,” says McLean, “Those are the major ones for us at the moment.”

The initiative will run for 12 weeks, four days a week.