PARS has opened a brand new five-bedroom house in West Auckland for wāhine needing support on release from prison. The establishment of the home reflects PARS’ commitment to supporting today’s wāhine who have been a part of the justice system to become tomorrow’s resilient, strong, proud wāhine toa.
The home has a live-in Kaiārahi and can accommodate up to four wāhine and their pēpi at any given time. The wāhine can stay for up to six months while their assigned navigator works with them to secure sustainable accommodation. The set-up of the house, including all of the furniture and baby equipment – portacots, high chairs, bathing tables, etc – was funded by an incredibly generous donation from the Anglican Diocese.
PARS is also working in collaboration with the Te Atatū branch of the Māori Women’s Welfare League, who generously sponsored eight wāhine Māori to receive a “Bed in a Bag” on release from prison, and are now also developing welcome packs. The Bed in a Bag initiative came about from the unique challenges lockdowns present for our tangata that do not affect the general population – including such things as how to purchase the basic necessities of life (groceries, clothing, bedding) – without the debit or credit cards that are necessary to click-and-collect or to make online orders. The Bed in a Bag kits provide tangata with a full set of linen, including pillows, blankets, sheets, towels and tea towels.
If you would like to donate to PARS making a difference in the lives of wāhine and their pēpi, you can visit our Koha page or call us on 09 630 0862.