Caring for the most vulnerable CARING

JULY 2016

From Bishop PatThank you for supporting the most vulnerable in our community.My sincere thanks to you for making hope possible for thousands of vulnerable families in our community.

This month, Caring July, I was able to endorse the distribution of funds to over 60 social organisations who will be receiving a grant from the Foundation for 2016. This has been made possible by your generous support of my Foundation through donations.

Your donations this year are helping the most vulnerable older people, youth and families throughout our diocese. By choosing to support my Foundation, your donation will continue to touch the lives of thousands of vulnerable people who are experiencing times of financial hardship, despair and

are trapped within severe cycles of deprivation. You have truly given them a gift of hope.

Throughout this special Jubilee Year of Mercy, please join with me as we offer support and help to those who are suffering or struggling the most within our communities.

With every blessing…

Bishop Patrick Dunn

Please join me on Wednesday, July 27th at 12.15pm at St Patrick’s Cathedral for the Caring Mass for the Foundation. RSVP by 13th of July to info@caringfoundation.org.nz or phone 09 360 3045.

When home is unstableYour donation to the Catholic Caring Foundation is used to support a community trust in Glen Innes who help vulnerable families.Mat* had a long history of addiction and mental illness. When his wife was diagnosed with cancer, his fragile world began to fall apart and his home-life with his only child, Taylor* became much more difficult to manage. Mat struggled not only with the death of his wife but the long-term effects of being severely beaten up as a past gang member. Even though he loved his daughter, he found it particularly difficult to communicate with her and their extended family.

Over the years, his daughter, Taylor, had fallen into the trap of missing days, and sometimes weeks of school. Taylor was referred to a Trust in Glen Innes that is supported by your donation to provide a support family worker to families like Taylor and her dad.

The family worker, Clare* worked intensively with Taylor and Mat, ensuring that Taylor had the right support to stay in school and finish her exams. Clare arranged transport for Taylor to get to and from school. Taylor was also given extra support in class and help with her homework. With this support, Taylor’s school attendance dramatically increased to 83% and she achieved both NCEA Level 1 and Level 2 in the same year.

“For a decile one school, getting through levels one and two in the same year is quite an achievement,” says Clare.On some nights, Clare would come to the house and mediate between Mat and Taylor, even if it was in the middle of the night. Other-times when Taylor did not feel safe at home, Clare would

find her a bed for a night or two.

“Taylor’s story is not a perfect story and it is still progressing,” says Clare. I still sometimes have Taylor come to stay with me and my family.”In amongst the chaos of home, Taylor was also taught life-skills to help her in her day-to-day home-life such as how to cook and use the washing machine.

“If we had not stepped in, I truly doubt that Taylor would be where she is today. She may have dropped out of school and would not have been on such a good and hopeful path,” says Clare.Your donation has supported the Catholic Caring Foundation to help Taylor during her most vulnerable times.*Names changed to protect their privacy.

YouR donation helPS the VulneRable and hoMeleSS

Homeless new-born baby, emergency homeless shelter, ICCT, June 2016.

“I’m haunted by those whom I have to turn away.

I’m haunted by whether I could have helped just one more homeless child

last week.”

I’ve been homeless – a personal storydanielle bergin’s trust, island Child Charitable trust has worked alongside the vulnerable and homeless for over twelve years. Your donation to the Catholic Caring Foundation has helped her trust provide a safe place, advocacy and mentoring for vulnerable Kiwis who can not find a home for their families.

”Walking into my homeless shelter is a lucky relief for families whom I can accept through the doors. You see, I’ve been homeless. I know how it feels to have nowhere to go. To be stressed about safety. To feel lonely inside. To watch every cent and walk the streets daily, looking for free opportunities. To sit in libraries and read the paper, trying to pass the time until the next free soup kitchen dinner. Thirteen years ago, I was able to gain a HNZC home (Housing New Zealand Corporation). I proved I was traumatised from a sexual assault, and I proved I had a newborn baby. I cried in the HNZC office, and within days I had an offer of a warm, dry home.

Our little HNZC unit gave baby and I shelter and a place to heal. I grew in confidence again, as my baby showed me how to better communicate with others. People would stop me on the street to lean into the pram to talk to baby and ‘coo’ and ‘ahhh’. Looking back at my homeless days, sleeping in my car, being transient, no-one ever stopped me to ask if I was alright. I guess I wasn’t a cute baby.

I guess I had barriers and too much sadness around me.

I had not grown up in poor New Zealand. I was white middle-class. I had been sheltered from poverty and social issues. Social reality started to hit me when baby was two years old and I inherited a small amount of money. It was just enough to buy the cheapest run-down shop in Panmure, Auckland. I noticed families sleeping outside in their cars. Inviting them in from the cold, I started letting people stay in my front room for free. From there Island Child Charitable Trust was formed.

What has kept me going for over twelve years, is seeing the personal growth from despair to recovery for homeless families. I see a parent arrive stressed, worried, crying and I help transform them to a calm-centred parent again. I see them smile and be happy that their children are gaining stability when moving into an income-related rental home.

I can not wave a magic wand to help the masses. All I can do is wave a wand to help a few. I try hard to select those who sound the most vulnerable. I hear them over the phone first.

“Please help us. We’ve nowhere to go.”

I try to find the voices belonging to those who sound like they are just gripping on. I hear the young woman saying that CYFS will take their baby once the motel room tab has run out. I’m haunted by those whom I have to turn away. I’m haunted by whether I could have helped just one more homeless child last week.

I’m now frightened of the tidal wave effect of desperate people seeking refuge. It is awful to turn them away and only help a lucky few but I can not do it any other way. I work hard everyday, and most days unwaged. Due to all the barriers now faced with gaining a home, I can only help about 15 families this year.

I often think of the many faces of people I’ve helped over the twelve years. At least 300 families safely housed because they met eccentric, warm-hearted me.

I get stopped on the street and I often can’t recall their names, but I listen intently while I’m told by a proud mother that she has just graduated from nursing school. “I listened to you, Danielle. You helped get me my home. I went and got an education for my kids’ future”.

It troubles me that the hard-working single mother can not afford to buy a home. It troubles me that a generation will be kept in a cycle of poverty. Even with a nursing degree, she may never proceed to working class from poverty line.

What legacy are we leaving to future generations? Have we left it too late? I hope not. We all have a duty of care to our most vulnerable citizens to assist in their time of need.”

Who your donation supports in 2016BUDGETING:Christian Assist Trust, AvondaleEast Auckland Home and Budget Service(Tamaki Budgeting)

CHILDREN:CAPS (Jigsaw North), Northland Pillars, South Auckland

COMMUNITY PROGRAMMES:Society of St Vincent de Paul, South AucklandGlen Innes Christian Community Cook’s TrustFriendship House, Manukau

COUNSELLING:Island Child Charitable Trust, Glen InnesMassey Community Trust

DISABILITY:Forget Me Not Adult Day Centre, WhangareiParent to Parent, Northland

ELDERLY CARE:Kaitaia & District Age ConcernShanti Niwas Charitable Trust, South AucklandLinking Hands Inc., Mungaturoto Age Concern, Whangarei

FAMILY ISSUES:Otamatea Community Services, NorthlandParent Aid, Northwest AucklandNirvana Foundation-Gandhi Nivas, South AucklandHomebuilders Family Services, North Rodney

FOODBANKS:Kerikeri/Kaeo Community FoodbankSouth Auckland Christian FoodbankBay of Islands Districts FoodbankFar North Community Foodbank, KaitaiaRanui Baptist Community Care

HEALTH:Miscarriage Support Auckland Inc.Women’s Centre Rodney Health and Wellness Centre, Otahuhu College

HOSPICE-HEALTHHibiscus HospiceFar North Hospice

HOUSING:De Paul House, NorthcoteMonte Cecilia Housing Trust, Mangere

NEW SETTLERS:Auckland Latin American Community Inc., OnehungaThe South Asian Trust Inc. (Sahaayta Trust)South Auckland

Asylum Seekers Support Trust – div of AucklandRefugee Council

PASTORAL CARE:Society of St Vincent de Paul, KingslandCatholic Deaf Chaplaincy Auckland Pre Marriage EducationHospital ChaplaincyPrison ChaplaincySeasons for Growth, AucklandBishop’s Special Needs (Emergency Grants)

VIOLENCE PREVENTION:Youth and Whanau Focus South Kaipara Inc.

WOMEN’S REFUGES & SUPPORTSupport of Sexually Abused, Dargaville & DistrictsPregnancy Help Inc., Auckland City Nga Whaea Atawhai O Aotearoa Sister of Mercy/Te Waipuna Puawai Mercy Oasis Ltd

Shakti Asian Women’s Safe house IncorporatedRape Crisis Auckland, Grey LynnNorth Shore Women’s CentreTryphina House, Whangarei Kia Timata Community Trust

YOUTH:Papatoetoe Adolescent Christian TrustTamaki Community Development, Glen InnesCoast Youth Community Trust Logos Project Auckland Catholic Diocese Youth MinistriesDe La Salle College, ManukauSt Francis Xavier School, Whangarei St Pius X Primary, Glen Innes Catholic Social Services, Ponsonby & OtaraMarist Alternative Education, North Shore Te Kura o Hata Maria Pawenga, Far North

Why we support the Foundation“As a family, we support the Catholic Caring Foundation because it supports those struggling with disadvantage across Auckland and Northland in real practical ways – regardless of their race or religion.We have committed to monthly automatic giving because we know that problems cannot be solved overnight. The kind, strong people working with those in need stay the course. And so we will too.” Ivan and Gráinne Moss.

Setting up your regular and automatic payment is simple and helps us reduce our costs, which means we can stretch your donation further.

For more details call today 09 360 3045.

Caring Mass July 27th at St Patrick’s CathedralPlease join us for our Caring Mass on Wednesday, July 27th at St Patrick’s Cathedral. Please RSVP by 13th of July to info@caringfoundation.org.nz or phone 09 360 3045.

For a list of carparks please go to www.at.govt.nz/driving-parking/parking-in-auckland. Please note there won’t be validated parking at Wilson’s carpark on Hobson Street, however causal rates will be available.

Seeds of hopeThank you for the many ways you support the Foundation. Your prayers, telephone calls, suggestions and personal notes are all very much appreciated. Recently, we received two carefully wrapped parcels of seeds by a concerned donor who was moved by one of the stories we shared. These seeds of hope will be put to great use.

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