We met Reana* in the middle of May 2008. She’s a young Samoan woman in her late twenties, with a quiet smile and gentle manner.
Reana*, her husband Ali* and their two children, Katrina (2) and John (4), came to live at De Paul House in late January. They’d heard about it through Ali*’s sister who had lived here for a short time herself. Like many of De Paul House’s clients, the rising cost of living had seen them struggling to live independently.
“It was hard here at first,” says Reana*, “It didn’t feel like home.” But a few months later “We’re feeling more settled and really like it here.” The practical support De Paul House offers – food, shelter and financial help – is obviously important. “It means a lot to us,” says Reana*. But it’s the people who provide that help who make the difference. “The smiles of the staff mean a lot too.”
De Paul House has given Reana* the chance to learn new skills. While Ali* works part-time in a local factory and the children attend the local playgroup, Reana* and other parents take part in courses offered on-site to improve their numeracy, literacy and parenting skills. They’re joined by other parents supported by De Paul House’s Outreach programme in the community.
“Reana*’s made the most of the courses available,” says Marie Etienne, one of De Paul House‘s two Family Support Coordinators. “It’s rewarding for us to see our clients so keen to learn the skills that will help them live independently in the community when they leave us.”
Reana*, she and her family welcomed their third child daughter Seepa arrived in early June. De Paul House was able to help here too, with practical items like a carseat and cot. The children (and it would be fair to say, De Paul House’s staff too!) were very excited about the baby’s arrival, with John constantly wanting to know “where the baby was”.
The next big event in the family’s life will be John’s. He’s just turned five and is off to school at St Mary’s, a small, integrated primary school just over the road from De Paul House.
Reana* and her family have been supported in applying for a house from HNZ. They have recently been offered one and will move from De Paul House in a couple of weeks. They are busy making their list of furniture, household appliances, linen and other household goods from the De Paul House furniture and household goods bank. Goods are paid for from savings the family has made while at De Paul House. Back into the community, equipped with the skills and knowledge De Paul House has helped them gain, they will become what we call “outreach clients” and will still be followed up and offered support by DPH.