DCM's 50th Birthday Photo Exhibition

“Together we can end homelessness”

DCM's 50th birthday photo exhibition featured 50 images – one for each of the years that DCM has been working to “focus on the needs of, and to help empower, those marginalised in the city”.

The exhibition took as its title DCM’s byline - “together we can end homelessness”: it takes a joined up, collective and concentrated effort to support marginalised people back into housing, and to support them to stay housed. That effort includes government, city council, social workers, community groups, local businesses and professional groups, and the many Wellingtonians who give money, time, skills, goods and services. Importantly, this group also includes those who are or who have been homeless themselves – their commitment to picking up the paddle (ki te hoe) and doing what it takes to become well, and then going on to support others on a journey to housing and wellbeing.

Click on the images below to open up a slideshow, then scroll down for the next section

Each image represents many others who support our mahi in this way, and we lift you all up.

DCM’s very special landlords, Kaye and Maurice Clark, have provided DCM with a long-term home, and the spaces we need to support people experiencing homelessness – from dental and medical rooms to the special space which is Te Hāpai. Local faith communities have supported DCM’s work in many ways for 50 years (two images here represent the many faith communities who are part of our mahi - Temple Sinai and Wesley Church). One Percent Collective supports our work to end homelessness through regular funding and connections to caring New Zealanders (Pat Shepherd, founder).

Taumai play their part in many ways – working at DCM, volunteering at the DCM Bookfair and seasonal kai, being part of music and activity at Te Hāpai (tuku atu, tuku mai) and through their own commitment to doing the hard work necessary to access and sustain a tenancy. Here we see Te Amo (top of page) at work in the DCM Foodbank, Bubbie who is now housed in a Housing NZ tenancy and Gary who is housed in a Wellington City Housing Tenancy. The provision of homes is an important way in which the government, city council and private landlords can be part of the solution to homelessness. Staff from key funders support DCM in other ways too (represented by image of HUD staff helping out at seasonal kai).

Te Hāpai is a welcoming space at DCM where we work with people experiencing homelessness. Supporters provide kai (for example, Pandoro) and coffee (Mojo) so that we can offer hospitality to people who are experiencing homelessness while we spend time together, building engagement. Others are part of the activity programme (for example, John leads weekly poetry sessions and Ngā Taonga screens films at Te Hāpai) or lift up taumai in other ways (Matt the barber offers haircuts at Te Hāpai).

“Together” – The images of DCM’s two leaders, our Director and Kaihautū, reflect DCM’s commitment to a partnership model between tangata whenua and tangata tiriti. (Stephanie McIntyre, DCM Director, and Neavin Broughton, DCM Kaihautū). DCM kaimahi support taumai to find and sustain housing, access a benefit and manage their money and connect them to health, whānau and other supports. (Alex, Michelle and Tania; Alan). DCM is committed to a Housing First approach to ending homelessness. This prioritises rapidly moving people into appropriate, permanent housing and immediately providing wrap-around support. (Taone O’Regan, Operations Manager, Housing First team). A team provides outreach services, going out to connect with people who are rough sleeping and street begging. (Rob Sarich, Outreach team). Working with people who need support to sustain their tenancies to prevent homelessness recurring is an important part of DCM’s mahi to end homelessness. (Sia To’omaga, Team Leader, DCM Sustaining Tenancies).

Oral health care is one of the most significant unmet needs of people who are experiencing homelessness or are at risk of homelessness. Many live in constant pain from untreated decay or disease. The DCM Dental Service provides emergency oral health care or pain relief to the people we work with. Dentists from the Wellington branch of the NZDA generously volunteer their time. (Sophie McKenna, lead dentist; images of dentists at work at DCM taken by dentist and photographer Chris Bing). Support from dental assistants is also essential to the running of the service (image shows volunteer dental assistants Marion, Emily and Margaret). Additional support is provided by others, both financially and through donation of time and skills (Russell Newberry, Electro Mechanical Services). The generosity of medical professionals who volunteer their time enables DCM to offer physiotherapy, audiology and ophthalmology appointments at DCM. (Jeff Dixon, Lisa Seerup and Paul Herrick).

Wellingtonians volunteer as drivers (Richard picks up food donations from our collection bin at New World Chaffers) and at our foodbank appeal, make regular donations of time, skills and money (Wendy Nelson, Helen Harvey from Live Wires), organise their own fundraising events (Nota Bene annual Christmas Concert at Prefab) or offer practical support like our neighbour, handyman Neville, who comes by whenever we need his help!

Many people donate food items to stock our foodbank, and supporters like Kaibosh provide kai every week. At the start of each season, we host taumai at a seasonal kai feast – many supporters are part of this (represented here by images of Rex Morgan, Tristram family).

Individuals and businesses become part of our work to end homelessness by donating their professional skills and services; they include writers (Lee-Anne Duncan), designers (Jo Warrington), photographers (Helen, James and John) and printers (Prestige Print).

For the last 24 years, the iconic DCM Bookfair has raised large sums to fund DCM’s work to end homelessness, made possible each year by some 200 book sorters and other volunteers, 5,000 shoppers and the high quality donations which enable us to offer up to 90,000 books.

Photographers

Helen Mitchell - James Gilberd - John Williams - Chris Coad - Mary Hutchinson - Chris Thomson - Catherine Cattanach - Gabrielle McKone - Dean Zillwood - Daniel Mooney - Jessica O’Brien - Emma Robinson - Mark Beehre - Antony Kitchener - Chris Bing - Pat Shepherd - Tam Webster