A safe haven for a Tauranga mum and daughters

“It’s our house and we feel so good living here. I have always wanted a home where we can feel safe and secure,” says Chevelle, who last lived in a stable home in her teens. Chevelle’s home is in a small group of other new Kāinga Ora houses, and she has enjoyed getting to know her new neighbours who moved in at the same time, with most also single parents.

“We say ‘hi’ and look out for each other a bit, it’s nice to have others around who understand where you’ve come from.

”I was so happy when we moved in, I took a video so I could show my family my new home, and so we can look back on that day.”

Life-changing

The move into their new two-bedroom home with fenced outdoor area has been life-changing for Chevelle’s children, 10 and three.

“The kids are happier, they can hang out in their own room or outside on the deck or do cooking. They have the space to grow and learn.”

Art and crafts are something she and the girls love to do, and they recently went all out decorating their home for Halloween. She finds doing art calming and healing, adding “we love to make things, it’s a way to express ourselves.” The security of having their own home is also bringing changes in this family’s day-to-day life.

“We are all sleeping so much better now, we go to sleep at night knowing we can wake up safe and happy in the morning. We also giggle and laugh again, like hyenas!”

Motel memories

The last six years have been challenging for the family, who have lived in emergency housing motels in Tauranga and Rotorua, and in transitional housing. Life before was “hectic and crazy”, adding “living in those motels you see it all, all walks of life live there.”

One of the Tauranga motels will always be a part of the family’s memories, as Chevelle’s youngest decided to enter the world very quickly and was born in one of them.

“She just popped out” says Chevelle, who named her youngest after the Greek goddess of light.

A bright future

While her daughters are at school or pre-school, Chevelle keeps herself busy, including looking after the house and dropping and collecting the girls at school and daycare.