Will’s Story:
“Time to work on me”
If you were looking for Will*, you’d probably find him at the gym training for his next Muay Thai competition. After a long session, Will heads home to his whare (house). He’s been living there for three months now, supported by DCM.
It’s a long road to a Muay Thai title. And it’s been a journey for Will to get to his whare too. When we spoke to him, he took us right back to the start.
“I'm Samoan. I was born in Wellington, grew up in Wellington, went to school in Wellington. I have four other siblings. We all grew up in my parents' house.
“Wellington’s a nice place, beautiful place. The weather's, uh, you have to get used to it, but yeah.
“I found out about DCM through Wesley Community Action. When I started getting rough and finding it hard, my social worker helped me get connected to the housing scene.”
“Because of circumstances, situations, I had to leave where I was staying. I was just going back and forth, from my friends' couches, sometimes just sleeping in my car.
“I didn’t know what to expect, not really. I came down and everyone was friendly.”
When Will first arrived at DCM, he didn’t have somewhere safe and stable to call home.
While the team worked hard alongside Will to find him somewhere permanent to live, Crisis Accommodation was transformative.
Made possible because of donations like yours, Crisis Accommodation offered somewhere safe and secure where Will could focus on what mattered while he was supported by DCM’s housing team. It meant Will was off the streets, away from the Wellington weather we all know so well.
Will knows, more than most, the impact your generous donation to offer Crisis Accommodation, emergency kai and wrap around support has made for others in our community this winter.
“Crisis Accommodation was a big help. I was staying there until I got put in this place that I'm in now.
“There's people out there that actually need some help. And kindness will come a long way.
“It's a whole heap of problems off their plate for a whole night, worries are gone for a whole night. They’re free for a little bit.”
And Crisis Accommodation was just the beginning for Will. Now, in his long-term home, he has the space to focus on what’s important for him and his whānau (family).
“Since working with DCM, it's changed my whole mindset. Now I've got a whole space for me and my daughter, my family.
“So it's cool. It gives me more time to work on me. I’m kind of a quiet guy, so I like my own space too.”
And it’s given Will the space to think about the future too.
“I'm looking forward to hanging up that Muay Thai title on my wall. And filling up the wall with pictures.”
Now, thanks to you, many more people like Will have been given the chance to get off the streets and into somewhere warm and safe this winter. Somewhere where they can begin to think of the future, too.
*We’ve changed Will’s name to respect his anonymity
