Kat’z is safe and cosy in her inner-city apartment

For a long time, Kat’z slept rough on inner-city streets. She’d left home young because the streets were a safer place to be – and for years she lived as part of the rough sleeping community.

When she eventually moved into a home, Kat’z maintained her work as a “street mother” – a protective figure for other members of the rough sleeping community. She was someone they could go to for help, day or night.

However, there were times when she needed a little solitude – and that’s what exactly what she’s found since moving into her new Kainga Ora home at Te Mātāwai.

Comprising 200 apartments across two buildings, it’s the biggest public housing complex in Aotearoa, and customers are afforded extra layers of privacy by Hapori Kaitiaki, the guardians who are onsite 24/7.

“What I love about this place is that I have privacy and security. Visitors have to go through reception, so that gives you the choice to say if it’s a good time or not. I feel safe here.”

Kat’z has beautiful views from her apartment, which is perfectly sized for her needs. “I have a bedroom and a space I use as a little office where I can study or work on my art. I have my guitars in there, too.”

When she’s not working in her role as a peer support worker, Kat’z likes to join some of the activities on offer within the development such as waiata and art classes, which she finds therapeutic.

“Art runs for two hours, every weekday. It’s enough to deescalate anything that’s gone on for me that day.”

She also makes good use of the communal spaces and is enjoying getting to know her new neighbours.

“At first, I found it a bit hard seeing lots of new faces in the building, but you become accustomed to it – we get to know each other.

“You can hear life around you in the building and I like that because you’ve got to have that human contact, you don’t want to be isolated.”

Kat’z is looking forward to spending her first Christmas at Te Mātāwai with whānau, “just being with others in kindness and happiness – it’s going to be special.”