Out In The Cold

WARM AND SAFE: BRAD’S JOURNEY FROM THE STREETS TO HOME

Searching for Shelter

On winter mornings in Glenfield on Auckland’s North Shore, Brad learned to wake before the wind did.
“When the wind changed,” he says, “I’d wake up soaked and go looking for somewhere – anywhere – warm and safe.”

For five difficult months, doorways and back lanes became his refuge. Each night brought uncertainty—cold, damp conditions and the need to stay alert. Sleep came in short bursts, never deep and never without risk.

“You never feel safe,” Brad says. “You’re cold, you’re wet, and you’ve got to keep moving just to get through the night.”

He kept out of sight, shifting around the Shore. Even with a sleeping bag, the cold crept in. The toll was more than physical – exhaustion, loneliness, and the strain of survival wore him down.
“I got depressed,” he says. “I was just trying to make it through the night.”

A Life Interrupted

Brad grew up in Northcote and began working young – first in stables, then briefly as a jockey.
“I loved the horses, but I had a few injuries,” he says.

Later, he returned home to care for his mum as she lived with dementia. After she moved into residential care and the family home was sold, Brad rented in Hillcrest and worked in a warehouse in Wairau Valley. For a time, life felt steady. But illness and burnout forced him to leave his job. Soon after, his landlord passed away and the property was sold.

“I couldn’t keep up with the rent,” he says. “I had nowhere else to go.”

A short stay with a friend ended, and with no other options, Brad found himself homeless.

A Turning Point

Everything began to change when Brad walked into The Salvation Army.
“I came in for food at first,” he says. “But the staff – they welcomed me.”

What started as a meal became a pathway forward. With practical support and guidance, Brad was able to navigate his options and secure a warm, dry apartment in Belmont.

“I couldn’t have done it without them,” he says. “If they hadn’t stepped in, I’d probably still be homeless.”

In his new home, it was the quiet that struck him most – the absence of fear, the chance to rest.
“I can finally relax,” he says. “Cook a meal. Just settle.”

Friends quickly noticed the difference. “Safe and warm,” he says. “You can’t beat that.”

Finding His Way Back to Family

Around the same time, Brad experienced an emotional reconnection. For years, he had been out of touch with his family. While he was on the streets, his sister had been trying to find him and eventually tracked him down through an old contact.

“A friend said, ‘Your sister’s been trying to reach you.’ I got the note… and I called.”

During that call, Brad learned his brother had recently passed away.

“That’s how I found out,” he says quietly. “It was terribly sad.”

Though painful, the moment became a turning point. Brad and his sister began rebuilding their relationship.
“It was sad news, but it brought us back together.”

Now, with a place of his own, Brad has the stability to reconnect and welcome others into his life again.
“People can visit. We can talk. Start again.”

Looking Ahead with Hope

Today, Brad is focused on the future, finding comfort in everyday routines – cooking meals, keeping warm, and taking care of his health. When someone jokes about living another 30 years, he smiles.
“At least – 100 at least.”

He also wants to support others facing similar challenges.
“They’ve been good to me,” he says of The Salvation Army. “I want to give it back.”

From Survival to Stability

Brad hasn’t forgotten life on the streets – the cold, the fear, the loneliness. But he also remembers the moment he stepped into a space that was finally his own.

“Safe and warm,” he says. “That’s what I was looking for.”

Today, he carries grief, gratitude, and hope. From cold doorways to a warm home, his journey shows what’s possible when compassion meets action – and someone is given the chance to start again.

The Bigger Picture

The Salvation Army’s State of the Nation 2025 report paints a sobering picture:

• Over 41,000 people across New Zealand are experiencing homelessness in some form
• An estimated 3,000–4,000 people sleep rough on any given night
• 19,089 people are currently waiting for a Kāinga Ora home
• The average wait time is 233 days
• Nearly 50% of those on the waitlist are Māori, highlighting deep inequities in housing access
• Youth homelessness is rising, especially among those aged 15–24, driven by family breakdowns, poverty, and lack of affordable housing