Aucklandcitymission.org.nz
HomeGround
AUCKLAND CITY MISSION'S NEW HOME
T
he Auckland City Mission – Te Tāpui Atawhai has been supporting people in greatest need in Tāmaki Makaurau for more than 100 years. The building that serviced the Mission and its clients for the last 40 years became unfit for purpose, and wasn’t adequate to support its aspiration to end chronic homelessness in the city centre. Auckland City Mission’s Fundraising and Reputation Manager Deb Ward is passionate about social impact, and she couldn’t have been prouder as she guided our small tour group through the Mission’s thoughtfully and beautifully designed new premises on Hobson Street - HomeGround. HomeGround has been a dream 15 years in the making, which has finally been delivered following a COVIDinterrupted three-year build. The results are truly inspiring. The vision - integrated social, medical and detox services together with a supported living facility - was executed by Stevens Lawson architects, and the result is award winning. “The architects undertook international research into what is best practice for similar facilities, and engaged with our staff and clients to understand how best to tailor to Auckland’s specific needs. The result is one of the most comprehensive facilities of its kind in the world, and such a beautiful place to work and to live,” says Deb. Deb explains the design principles that informed the project. Firstly, trauma informed. “Many of the people we support are dealing with mental health or addiction issues. When you enter HomeGround you are met with wide hallways and high ceilings to reduce feelings of being trapped. Natural, muted colours are used for their calming effect, and natural light floods into the central laneway. There are also doors at either end of the building (Hobson and Federal Streets) to provide an easy exit if things get overwhelming.”
Secondly, te ao Māori design principles. “It’s the right thing to do in Aotearoa, particularly as the Mission is committed to being a good Te Tiriti partner, and many of our clients are Māori so we wanted to create an environment that was welcoming and familiar.” Each residential floor is named after an aspect of nature - including moana, tātahi, whenua - right up to the top floor – rangi. This encompasses the overarching principle of the healing power of the natural world, and artworks and cultural symbols echo this throughout HomeGround. A mauri (life force) stone is embedded in the entrance laneway, and a manea stone is situated above. Deb explains that these are acknowledged as symbols of healing, and help to create a “blanket of love around the building”. Meeting rooms are named after traditional medicinal plants, some of which are thriving in the stunning roof top garden. There are 80 studio and one-bedroom apartments for clients, which are permanent homes - theirs for as long as they want them. There are also detox facilities, the busy Calder Health Centre, and an onsite pharmacy. Haeata (new dawn) is the kitchen and communal dining room, which serves nutritious meals to up to 300 people on site every day. The feeling that HomeGround evokes is that of a welcoming and healing community, for its staff and for its residents alike. There are several inviting communal spaces where people come together to share kai, learning, cultural and social activities. While Deb showed us around, we were fortunate enough to meet some of the residents who shared their stories. They said they felt lucky to be there, they felt safe, and they felt at home. Bell Gully has supported the Auckland City Mission for many years with our staff and the partnership contributing to its key annual winter food and holiday season gift appeals.