Rosa's Story
Putting a roof over our family’s head
Rosa*, her partner Nigel* and their three young children are happily in a Kainga Ora home but even now Rosa feels a little whakama/shame.
‘I don’t like people to know I live in a state house. I feel I should be paying market rent but it’s unaffordable for many families,’ says Rosa.
Tough choices
The pain started for Rosa and Nigel when Nigel’s sister and her family moved out of the house they were sharing. Suddenly, their rent doubled from $400 a week to $800. With only $1000 a week coming in, things were incredibly tight, but they somehow managed for eight months, constantly making tough choices between food and power, and often sleeping in the lounge so that they only needed to heat one room.
The real problems started when Nigel, burnt out by the excessive travel to his job, unsociable hours and minimum wage, stopped working. Rosa understood and accepted his decision, but her heart sunk.
‘He was our main wage earner. I knew we were going to sink to the bottom, and I felt sick that I was going to put my children through that.’
Stress got quite bad for the couple when they weren’t making ends meet. Rosa says she just ignored how bad things were because she couldn’t work out how to change it. She was looking for a smaller house to rent but rejection after rejection wore her down.
The rent immediately started to go into arrears and within a few months, the couple found themselves at tribunal with a one-week eviction notice.
Not an easy decision
The couple went to the Ministry of Social Development (MSD) for help, but it wasn’t an easy decision. ‘We had to be adults and do what we could to keep a roof over our heads,’ says Rosa.
They were placed in emergency housing in a motel, which the couple found extremely hard. They had one room with a bed and a pull-out sofa for their family of five.
‘We were living marae style, and it was embarrassing when people came to the motel on short vacation stays. I felt like I was living off taxpayers’ money.’
It was also very inconvenient as their girls were still going to school some 30km away and the family were away from the area they knew and loved.
‘We didn’t have a car in the motel, so we were borrowing my sister’s car.
I had a lot of emotions. But being a mother, I knew I had to try and make things as normal as possible for my three. I just tried to make anywhere we were placed feel like home.’
Things got so uncomfortable for the couple in emergency housing, they thought about splitting up the family. Rosa would take the children to her parents and Nigel would find somewhere else.
More than Op shops
That’s when the family were referred to The Salvation Army for transitional housing.
‘It was such a blessing, I didn’t even know the Sallies did more than op shops. When we got the call, I said “yes, please, we’ll take the first available appointment to sign the papers.”’
It was a big relief for the couple to be given transitional housing, especially as it was close to their girls’ school so they could say goodbye to trying to find the petrol money for long car trips.
‘We got so much emotional support in transitional housing. We gained a lot of confidence, and my partner found a new job.’
Four months later, they moved to a Kainga Ora house. ‘We are blessed, it’s a little townhouse in a small complex, close to the girls school.’
As part of the wraparound services from The Salvation Army, Rosa and Nigel saw a financial mentor to help with their budget.
‘I should have done this year’s ago,’ she says. ‘My pride was a bit up there and I was embarrassed to share what we spent our money on. My little dairy spends were probably comfort eating but when you see it in black and white on a budget, it really adds up.’
Accepting help
The couple accepted just one food parcel when they moved into their permanent home and some back-to-school supplies. ‘That was a nice surprise,’ says Rosa. ‘But I still felt we were accepting a hand-out.’
She’s changed her mind about asking for help, but her pride is still something she feels she needs to overcome. ‘If you don’t ask, you don’t get,’ says Rosa.
‘The difference with The Salvation Army is there’s no judgement. So, I’d encourage anyone in our situation to put their hand up. The rents are crazy, it’s no surprise a lot of us can’t afford them.
Our goal now
‘I’m proud we stayed together as a family as I know many don’t. It’s so amazing to think all that upheaval is behind us. We don’t have to worry about moving again. Our goal now is to get 100% out of debt so we can stop living paycheck to paycheck.’
It is thanks to support from donors like you that makes this transformation possible. The support Rosa received was life-changing. This Winter Appeal you can help others facing difficult choices, and are needing guidance and wraparound support. Please show you care today.
*Stock image used and names changed to protect privacy.
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