A new transitional housing initiative in Tauranga is providing a lifeline for older wāhine experiencing homelessness, highlighting a growing but often overlooked housing crisis affecting older women across Aotearoa.
He Kaupapa Kotahitanga Trust has officially opened Huia House, a dedicated transitional home designed to support older women who have found themselves without safe and secure housing. The initiative combines accommodation with wraparound support aimed at helping residents rebuild their lives and achieve long-term independence.
Co-chair Angela Wallace says Huia House was established in response to a clear gap in housing services for older women, many of whom have unique needs that are not always met through traditional emergency accommodation or homelessness services.
While homelessness is often associated with younger people or rough sleeping, older women are becoming one of the fastest-growing groups experiencing housing insecurity. Many have spent decades in low-paid employment, experienced relationship breakdowns, lived with family violence, or reached retirement without sufficient savings or stable housing.
The Trust says these circumstances can leave women particularly vulnerable later in life, with rising rents, the cost of living and a shortage of affordable housing making it increasingly difficult to secure long-term accommodation.
Wallace says demand for support continues to grow, with more older women seeking assistance than ever before. Some have been forced into homelessness after losing rental accommodation, while others are living in cars, moving between temporary arrangements or staying with family and friends because they have nowhere else to go.
The Trust believes older women experiencing homelessness often remain invisible because many avoid sleeping rough, instead relying on unstable living arrangements that mask the true scale of the problem.
Huia House has been developed to provide far more than temporary shelter. Residents will receive wraparound support tailored to their individual circumstances, including assistance with accessing healthcare, financial advice, budgeting, employment and income support, counselling and help navigating government services.
The goal is to provide women with the stability and confidence needed to transition into secure, long-term housing while rebuilding their independence and reconnecting with their communities.
The Trust says housing alone cannot solve homelessness. Sustainable outcomes require coordinated support that addresses the complex issues contributing to housing instability, while recognising the strengths and resilience each woman brings.
For many residents, Huia House offers an opportunity to regain dignity, security and hope after experiencing prolonged uncertainty.
The opening comes as housing affordability remains one of New Zealand’s most pressing social issues, with community organisations warning that demand for transitional housing continues to outstrip supply in many regions.
Advocates say targeted initiatives such as Huia House demonstrate the importance of community-led solutions that respond directly to local needs while providing culturally appropriate and person-centred care.
As the number of older New Zealanders facing housing insecurity continues to rise, He Kaupapa Kotahitanga Trust hopes Huia House will not only transform lives in Tauranga but also encourage wider investment in services that ensure older wāhine have access to safe housing and the support needed to thrive.
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