A healthy home changed everything
Thanks to compassionate supporters like you, Charlene* and her family found hope after years of living in a house where black mould was severely affecting their health. When every other avenue had been exhausted, your support helped provide the advocacy and care that changed their future.
‘For more than seven years, I lived in a home covered in black mould. No matter how often I cleaned or treated it, it always came back. I had a severe lung condition and an immune deficiency, requiring monthly hospital treatments. That home was not just unhealthy; it was making me sicker.
‘I was in and out of hospital. I submitted countless medical reports, specialist letters and doctors’ recommendations to both MSD and the housing team, all explaining why I urgently needed to move. I even had advocacy support from local MPs. But despite my urgent need, I remained stuck there.
‘During this time, I fell pregnant with my fourth son. Just one month after he was born, we learned that he also had a severe lung condition. At only 15 months old, he required surgery. That was when doctors confirmed his lungs were permanently damaged. Even though I had ongoing support letters all advocating for safe, healthy housing, we remained trapped in that mould-ridden home.
‘After paying rent and essential bills, I was struggling to afford basic kai. Even simple things like bread and milk became difficult to buy. Rising gas prices meant I was having to make impossible choices, choosing between getting to medical appointments or putting food on the table. It was tough.’
When Charlene connected with The Salvation Army’s Sustaining Tenancies service, your generosity helped ensure she received the support she needed. ‘For a long time, I didn’t get the right help. Then I met Whaea Sue**, and things finally started moving.’ With support made possible by donors like you, Charlene received advocacy, guidance and practical support. Today, Charlene and her whānau are living in a healthy Kāinga Ora home.
‘Our current home is so much healthier. Since moving here, my family and I are no longer constantly in and out of hospital. Our health is finally manageable. The stress that once consumed our everyday lives has eased.’ For Charlene, the support went far beyond housing. During a mental health crisis involving her older son, your kindness reached her family through the compassionate presence of Whaea Sue.
‘The first time Whaea Sue came to my house, my son was having a mental health crisis. My mum and I were overwhelmed, crying and unsure how to help him. Whaea Sue helped to calm the situation down and create a safety plan. She didn’t leave until my son had been seen by a mental health professional.
‘From that time on, Whaea Sue became a guiding light for my whole whānau. If something goes wrong now, she is my first point of call, not just for help, but for guidance. What I respect most about her is that she never makes decisions for me. She walks alongside me, not in front of me. That has restored my belief in myself.’
Because of your generosity, families like Charlene’s don’t have to face overwhelming challenges alone. Your support helps provide advocacy, practical assistance and compassionate care, giving people the stability, dignity and hope they need to build a better future.
*Name changed to protect privacy.
**Whaea is a Māori term of respect, like ‘mother’ or ‘aunt’.