One Less Thing To Worry About

When I got out of jail, I started living in a dodgy caravan in Upper Hutt. I had been living like that for about a year when some DCM staff came out to see someone else who was staying nearby. They helped him get a house, then they helped me too. They found me, really.

That caravan wasn’t much. A really small thing, barely twice the size of me. It was freezing in winter, and I had to use a shared kitchen to cook anything. Who would want to live like that?

DCM helped me move into emergency housing in the city. I know I was lucky because I had a double bed, but I didn’t like it. There were people from all over the motu and there were fights most nights. My DCM keyworker worked hard to get me out as quickly as she could.

Now, I’ve been in my own place for about six months. It’s awesome. It’s permanent and mine for the rest of my life. I even have a stove with elements!

To be honest, I’d love to take a trip back home to the South Island one day. I haven’t seen my brother since 2016. I got stuck here after jail. I was arrested down south but somehow ended up in jail in Wellington. It doesn’t make sense to me, why I was released here and not taken home. But I’m not fussy. I like Wellington now.

I’ve got PTSD from childhood trauma and it’s still something I deal with. It affects my sleep and causes anxiety. I think it contributed to me ending up in jail

"Having my own home makes a big difference. It’s one less thing I have to worry about."

And now I’m working. DCM helped me get set up with MSD, and someone there found me a job at a motel in the Hutt. It’s not full-time, but I love it. I just needed something to do. I do odd jobs like gardening and painting. The owner is great. He doesn’t judge me. I can work by myself and do my thing. It feels really good to have a job.

My dream is to start a tourism business. Waka tours to Stewart Island. I’m Rakiura Māori, from Stewart Island, and I’d love to show people where I come from. But it would be a catamaran, not a waka. I’ve thought about this.

I’m “graduating” from Aro Mai Housing First soon. I’m ready to manage things myself. But my keyworker told me I can still come back to DCM when I need to. She said they’d always be there.

"DCM is just 'too much'. The support they give to people from all walks of life is amazing. I’ve been treated so well."

I’ve used a lot of DCM’s services. I’ve seen the nurses, used the foodbank when things were tough, and got help with my teeth. Even when I don’t want to go to the dentist, they call me and convince me to come in. My teeth have been bad since I was a kid and I’ve always hated the dentist, but they’ve stuck with me. Once they pull a few more, I’ll get dentures. I’m getting there.

DCM picked me up, sorted me out, and got me a permanent home. They are just awesome.