Men out in the cold
If you’re a male and need emergency housing, even for just a few nights, there’s often nowhere to lay your head. Merilee Andrew reports.
Western Welfare Agencies, which can comfortably cater for displaced females and their children, say the housing situation is desparately inadequate for males.
Citizen’s Advice Buraeu manager Diane Mellowes has trouble placing males. “I’ve had a run of them. There’s just this huge gap for homeless men or married people. ”
Her office is a common port of call for people who are low on funds but need a roof in a hurray. It’s not a problem if they’re female. But for everyone else – single males, or families with a husband or older boys – it’s “desperate”.
Salvation Army Henderson’s Zandrea Lee says she meets quite a few men who come in, down on their luck, to find nowhere local to send them.
The Aucklander, 6 September 2006, page 7.
The rest of the article describes a situation where the female and children where housed and the husband had to sleep in the car. Also how the streets become a home and how the places for men are not very pleasant.
Following a serious illness suffered by Warren Heap, the Separated Fathers house is now closed. This would also contribute to the urgent housing situation for men.
Comment by Bevan Berg — Mon 18th September 2006 @ 5:15 pm
Have been in a similar situation myself three times over the last three months. Glad someone is addressing it, it’s a huge problem. High time for a Ministry of Men’s affairs!
Comment by layo — Mon 18th September 2006 @ 5:16 pm
I hear you Layo,
Comment by julie — Tue 19th September 2006 @ 5:02 pm
Hi Julie,
I’ve just come accross this post and say thanks for putting it up.
I too can attest to a spell of homelessness following IRDs refusal to budge on my child support payments whilst my ex luxuriated in what today would be a million dollar manse, jetted overseas for holidays and dressed in chifon. I had a stark choice to make pay the rent or be prosecuted by IRD. So I was for a short time homeless. Luckily I was attending a men’s group at the time and one of the guys let me crash in a spare room for a few weeks until I could muster the money to get IRD off my back.
I’ll never forget the pain and humiliation of that, and the callous misandric disregard for my welfare displayed by another nz institution.
Comment by Stephen — Fri 6th October 2006 @ 11:54 pm
stephen,
my 2 lesbians friends say you sound like you are gay.
now i am wondering?
Comment by julie — Tue 10th October 2006 @ 7:23 pm
stephen,
maybe you are and maybe you’re not and maybe you have changed in your persuit against women without knowing. i personally don’t care because i am for gay men also. don’t get heated up on this for it is just other gay’s opinion.
Comment by julie — Tue 10th October 2006 @ 7:43 pm