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True stories from the Te Puke area about housing stress. Names changed, naturally. Stories quoted from a December 2019 report prepared by the Te Puke Co-Lab Housing Working Group.
“Actually getting food into you, finding somewhere to have a wash and get into your clothes actually takes up a bit of time and energy and getting around to do that…. You get to the age where you just want peace, quiet and no raru [conflict] with others.” Rachel, 50’s.
Homelessness can actually be kinda lonely. I’m not worried about the stigma, I don’t give a f what other people think. But not having your own bit of grass to perch on, for me and my dog – that can be confining.
I have been homeless, on and off, for 15 years. I’ve had some ruthless experiences but I have wheels, a big car, so these days I can just drive off.
The last time I had my own rental was 2006. I was there alone and it was peaceful. Another time I thought I had stability but they kicked me out and I had nowhere to go. People that turf you out have more money than a bull can shit and then there was me that thought I had a good place, but I had to turn around and get rid of most of my stuff because I had nowhere to go.
First thing I do when I get up is I go out and walk around the car and make sure my rubbish is picked up. Then toilet, sustenance, coffee, getting washed and dressed. The basics. Actually getting food into you, finding somewhere to have a wash and get into your clothes actually takes up a bit of time and energy and getting around to do that. I guess it’s a choice for me cause I would rather be doing this, sitting around and eating [able to buy food], rather than sitting in a box paying someone else’s mortgage and they telling me how to live and I’m starving.
For me at the moment, I am transitioning between one vehicle and another and I have been sick for about six weeks. People have raised the concern that it’s because of the way I have been living that I am sick but I refuse to take that on board. Because I actually think I had a really bad bug.
Even my own family, either in Kaitaia or Christchurch, ask “Are you working?” And I’m like and sure, I can just leave my animal, my closest companion, in the car all day. And get up and be all fresh and be ready for work.
I’m not averse to having the odd joint and the odd beer, but I don’t do it all the time and it isn’t the reason I’m in the situation I’m in. I’m homeless because I am stubborn and I damn well won’t go and pay someone else’s mortgage while I cannot afford to eat, run my car, go to the doctors. I wouldn’t be able to afford to do squat.
I have chosen to live alone and the only way I can afford to do that is this way. My mental health can’t cope with people [flatmates] who don’t pay, and steal my stuff. You get to the age where you just want peace, quiet and no raru [conflict] with others. You feel like you want to just row your boat and let people row theirs
