Liz

Welfare

Liz and her five dependent children were facing eviction when she finally told The Salvation Army of her plight.

Recently separated and with no family for support, Liz struggled for a year with high rent, rising living costs and spiralling debt before seeking help.

Behind in rent, the family was sent an eviction notice two years ago. ‘I thought I could get through it single-handedly, but it all came tumbling down like an avalanche,’ Liz says.

Making little headway in securing a Housing New Zealand house, she finally approached The Salvation Army two weeks before she had to vacate her house.

‘Admitting my situation—having to say we were about to become homeless—was huge,’ she recalls. ‘I was actually embarrassed I had got myself into that position—that I wasn’t able to look after my children singlehandedly. I also had to explain to my kids that it was okay to accept help.’

The Salvation Army quickly put the family into one of its emergency houses, and a Salvation Army budget advisor began to work with Liz on a strategy to tackle her debt.

A strict budget meant Liz was left with only $80 a week to feed, clothe and provide utilities and health care to a household of six, but The Salvation Army helped with regular food parcels and second-hand clothing.

It also helped negotiate a more permanent home for the family with Housing New Zealand.

Liz admits the last couple of years have been a continual struggle, but she now has a full-time job and is well on the way to becoming debt-free.

‘It’s been a really horrendous time in many ways, but I’ve made sure my kids’ basic needs have been met, particularly their emotional needs,’ she says.

A qualified chef, Liz runs cooking classes in her spare time as part of a Salvation Army life skills programme and is preparing to start a second course in another part of town. And as a further way to help others in her community she also helps cater for The Salvation Army’s community Christmas dinner.