'Chur': Rough sleeper happy free CBD laundry and shower service saved

Rotorua’s homeless will be able to access free showers, laundry services and hot drinks in the central city for another year thanks to the service being thrown a financial lifeline.

Mana Aroha, run by Visions of a Helping Hand Charitable Trust, has been operating on Pukuatua St for six years but funding woes risked its closure.

Te Taumata o Ngāti Whakaue Iho Ake has agreed to pay for the service to remain at reduced hours, news met by one user of the service with a big smile and a “chur”.

Mana Aroha has three showers, six commercial washing machines, four dryers and a second-hand store.

It operated Monday to Friday from 9am to noon and, according to the trust’s website, supported about 120 rough sleepers by providing donated toiletries, lockers, towels, tea, coffee and – for a koha – second-hand clothing.

The trust announced in April it would close the service at the end of June.

Funding it previously received for managing emergency housing motels had dried up as that system wound down and the trust could not afford to continue Mana Aroha.

Te Taumata o Ngāti Whakaue Iho Ake has answered the trust’s calls for help and will pay to keep the service open with reduced hours and days.

Trust acting chief executive Sarah Isaac said it was “extremely grateful” for the support and recognition of the service’s importance to the community.

Tiny Deane, the former chief executive of Visions of a Helping Hand Charitable Trust, started Mana Aroha six years ago. Photo / NZME

Isaac said Mana Aroha provided essential hygiene facilities, practical assistance and a place of dignity and connection for the most vulnerable people.

She said it had been operating without dedicated external funding. The trust would try to firm up sustainable funding options during the coming year.

Mana Aroha’s new hours were 9am to 11.15am Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday.

Te Taumata o Ngāti Whakaue Iho Ake has been involved in health, education and social services since 2005. Its housing arm is building a development alongside the Government in Ngongotahā for those in need.

Acting general manager Anahera Waru said it had a long-standing relationship with Visions of a Helping Hand Charitable Trust.

“Across Aotearoa, more people are sleeping rough, despite the basic right that every person deserves a place of warmth, safety and dignity.”

Waru said Mana Aroha provided essential care, the ability to shower, wash clothes and restore dignity.

Homeless gathering on Pukuatua St in July last year. Photo / Kelly Makiha

“We are proud to support the continuation of this service for another year, while continuing to work with others in our community towards long-term housing solutions for our people.”

The landlord of the Mana Aroha building, who spoke on the condition they were not named, was pleased the service would remain.

While there were issues with the behaviour of some homeless in the area, she said the trust kept the area clean and the rent paid.

“From a landlord’s perspective, we are lucky to have a tenant as there are a lot of empty buildings around town. Clearly they need the service because they need to be able to clean themselves.”

Rough sleeper says thanks

Maria Hohaia’s eyes lit up when she talked about the laundry and shower service remaining for another year.

The 51-year-old long-time homeless woman, known on the streets as Sweetie, told the Rotorua Daily Post she had heard it was not closing yet but was not aware who had funded it.

“Ngāti Whakaue? Ah, chur.”

Maria Hohaia, 51, is a long-time homeless resident in Rotorua who says she is grateful the laundry and shower service will remain open for now. Photo / Kelly Makiha

Hohaia said she had been homeless about 30 years and slept in a doorway near Mana Aroha.

She said she did not meet criteria for housing support, “so I don’t have anywhere else to go”.

She said the laundry and shower service were essential to make her feel good and clean.

“When you live on the streets, these are the only facilities we have to use.”

She said the reduced hours would mean she had to use it four days a week.

“We’ve got two hours to get in and get it done.”

Political view

Rotorua Mayor Tania Tapsell has been critical of the behaviour of some rough sleepers and supported the Rotorua Lakes Council’s actions to trespass them from the central city.

Police and council staff shut down a makeshift village on Amohia St, around the corner from Mana Aroha, in June last year.

Waiariki MP Rawiri Waiteti called this “inhumane and disgraceful” at the time, but Tapsell said the council had no choice because people were “s***ting, taking and selling drugs, and having sexual intercourse” in public.

Rotorua Mayor Tania Tapsell.

Asked for her reaction to the laundry and shower service remaining for another year, Tapsell said Rotorua had made great progress recently to improve inner-city safety and turn around a perception of homelessness.

She said some locals associated homelessness with anti-social behaviour and disruption that impacted nearby workers and businesses.

“I reassure our community that illegal and anti-social behaviour will not be tolerated.

“If issues come up, we’ll continue to support a safe and welcoming city centre and will also encourage providers to explore more suitable long-term options that meet people’s needs while better aligning with our wider vision for the inner city.”

Kelly Makiha is a senior journalist who has reported for the Rotorua Daily Post for more than 25 years, covering mainly police, court, human interest and social issues.