People Not Things

In Brief People Not Things

City Mission celebrates new initiatives They say don’t celebrate material things, because it’s people that matter, not things. At the City Mission, we agree, even though we are busy celebrating the opening of two buildings, stage one in our redevelopment on Hereford Street. The reason for our joy is these beautiful new buildings will let us do even more to help the people we care for.

We have spent months watching our old buildings pulled down, the site being cleared, and then the new buildings growing up from concrete pads and filling out into rooms. These first buildings to open were our new Thrive Café and our new Transitional Housing facility.

We have so many hopes, dreams and expectations for Whakaora Kainga— the name gifted to our new site by Pihopa Rihare, Bishop Richard Wallace, the Māori Anglican Bishop for Te Waiponamu. Whakaora Kainga translates into healing homes and this reflects the idea of a flourishing village and of a people whose mana is restored. It really fits what we intend for it. City Missioner, Corinne Haines says, “The people working together in our buildings is our community. Our café will become a hub in this “village” and a meeting place for residents, clients, staff and the public.”

The truly affordable café (coffees $3, cooked breakfast $7.50) makes it accessible to everyone and it’s also where our clients will learn work skills like waiting and barista training, while up to 15 residents in the transitional housing apartments will gain life skills and get the one-to-one support that helps them to live in community with others. The residents will stay for three months and will get help to find accommodation and ongoing support once they have moved on.

Bishop Peter Carrell referred to words quoted recently by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, but originally spoken by Mahatma Gandhi, which seemed particularly relevant to the work the City Mission is doing with Whakaora Kainga.

“The City Mission’s work is deeply political—it follows the political and social philosophy that ‘the true measure of any society can be found in how it treats its most vulnerable members.’ The Church must operate on God’s vision for a good society and the City Mission’s work is an expression of what that means in our community,” says Bishop Peter.

Happy beginnings: Bishop Richard Wallace, Bishop Peter Carrell and City Missioner Corinne Haines at the stage one celebration in October. Stage one includes the Thrive Café and a new block of transitional housing. In March next year the new foodbank, food warehouse and staff offices will also open. When that happens there will be an official opening for all three premises. Credit: CCM

Want a coffee?

Come along to the new social enterprise Thrive Café on 275 Hereford St. You’ll be doing our trainees a good turn and supporting CCM at the same time!