This year I have met with several different not-for-profit organisations including LifeWise, the Lighthouse, and the City Mission.

One project I support is the “Mission in the City” Project which aims to help homeless people as well as solo mums that may be struggling in to supported housing.

The City Mission, and all these groups do an incredible job working hard to help those in need of physical and emotional support.

The Mission in the City project is about establishing an inner city haven for people making a new start, people to whom fortune had tossed a curved ball, people wanting to find their way back from the margins.

It will require all the parts of Auckland’s society to pull together. It will take the philanthropy of Auckland’s citizens, the co-investment of other social service providers and the broad support of the city; an investment by us all.

The Mission in the City Project carries on this legacy to provide opportunities to a number of excluded groups. For the homeless it will provide accommodation in a caring and supportive community in which to live. For the inner city low income flat dwellers, it will provide open space, cafes, shops and health facilities in the midst of the city. For solo parents wanting to attain tertiary qualifications and contribute to society, it will shorten their journey from 13 years to 3 years in achieving this.

This project is a shared vision of statutory agencies, social services, corporates, and St Matthew-in-the-City and will only be realised through the generous support of New Zealanders.

If you feel you would like to get involved or can support this project, please contact my office on 09 378 2088 or at nikkikaye.haveyoursay@parliament.govt.nz