Responsibility for the homeless?

By MisTy

The overwhelming fear when you fall asleep, you are at your most vulnerable. The long dark, harrowing hours endured every night, a fight with your inner fears. The reality of your situation, the judgements, the abuse. The stigma attached to those who find themselves homeless. The pain and anguish associated with the people in this YouTube clip may have been two years ago, could easily be time-stamped present day, the stories remain similar if not worse. Life on the streets with the loss of family, the substandard housing called emergency accommodation. Families are living in overcrowded situations or poorly converted garages. Is this a solution for the homeless?

A missed opportunity

By Sophie Lynch

A year ago I would have been overjoyed to hear about free lunches for kids in schools, in fact I focused on it for a social work project proposal as a great solution to some of the many ills of poverty. This year however, on seeing the introduction of the $220 million in the Wellbeing Budget allocated to do exactly that, I am a mix of happiness for those tamariki no longer going hungry during school (who wouldn’t want that?), but I am left feeling frustrated that this government had the chance to decrease child poverty and chose a band aid solution. While I understand that something is better than nothing, it is a kick in the teeth for those who are living in poverty and inevitably sends the message that they are not responsible enough to spend money how they see fit to suit them and their whānau.

A new kind of racism on our shores

By Shyam

When I decided to move to Aotearoa New Zealand, I knew of it as the land of milk and honey, beautiful landscapes and a clean and green environment. I wasn’t disappointed on most aspects but time and again racism would rear its ugly head up, from being called a curry muncher, to applying for jobs where my qualifications and experience perfectly fit the profile but receiving rejections due to a foreign sounding name or even getting rejected for jobs in supermarkets, fast food places or one day while filling air in my car tyres at the service station, with this stranger waiting in his car asking ‘if I had a job, and then in the same breath saying that he would never employ me because I was too slow.’ The incident happened nearly 20 years and no matter how much I try to forget it, I am still unable to even forget what time of the day it was and at which service station the scene unfolded. Those stinging words have permanently scarred me. And this is what casual racism does to all victims, even though the perpetrator thinks of it as just a few harmless words or actions.

Post-pandemic prospect for homeless – Housing or streets?

by Hwi

My interest in the social issue of homelessness bloomed during my social work student placement. Through the placement, I discovered my past ignorant thoughts and actions toward the homeless community. It pushed me to see the complexity and diversity of homelessness and its close ties with housing.

From the Alert Level Four lockdown on 25 March, after weeks and weeks of isolation we have finally reached Level One with zero active cases. During the lockdown, we were advised to not to break our bubbles, and stay in our homes. But how could this be done for those without a home to stay in?

The digital divide – Excluding the excluded

By critiqueen

Recent advancement in information communication technology (ICT) has been remarkable and has come with many benefits in many facets of people’s lives. However, as we enter a digital age, it becomes more and more of an essential part of everyday life and civil/social participation. There has now been a noticeable development of a “digital divide”, as those who are left behind are further excluded. This is a complex issue and there are many reasons as to why people are being left behind, however it has largely impacted already marginalised populations and deepened the level of exclusion experienced.

Better welfare is necessary and possible

By Petra

I find myself frustrated at the advocacy role that social workers play, especially at Work and Income. It reminds me somewhat of the billionaire who exploits labour and land at every opportunity, only to donate millions of those stolen dollars in charity to exploited communities. Strangely misdirected, round about, and very inefficient for a society which holds this value to such esteem.Surely it should raise many questions and challenges, when primarily government funded social workers are advocating against a government funded institution purposed with supporting people in unemployment. It seems a lot like an acceptance that the welfare system isn’t working. It should raise even more questions why the current benefits rates and current system are not being utilised for the newly unemployed. What makes this cohort different from the current “job seekers”?