We are very busy here at the Mission and the demand for our services is growing. Thank God we are still being well supported.
Even though the last few days have been fine I am sick of the cold. It seems to be that after a beautiful summer we are now having awful weather. I can’t remember being this cold for a long while. If this is the case for me then just imagine what it is like for people who have no homes or who live in cold, damp and uninsulated houses. For many people on low incomes just keeping warm is a daily struggle. What choices can they make? Will they try and heat the children’s rooms or, as one Christchurch family did, all move into to one room together. Will they spend money on power or will they get into to debt with the power companies and not pay their bill so that they can meet their other needs, food and rent for example? Will they risk their health by not using heating at all? Being poor means that one’s health is also at risk. This in turn leads to absenteeism at school and work. In turn this leads to more poverty and a lack of opportunities in later life.
Despite the economic upheaval that we are going through, people in a country like New Zealand must have basic human rights which include food, shelter and love. Food gives us internal warmth, shelter gives us external warmth and love surrounds us. I think this is not a matter of charity but of justice.
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Monday, June 1, 2009
You may have read in the paper about the City Mission having a plan to undertake a major redevelopment of the Mission. The following are the reasons why we want to do this.
· Condition and age of the buildings
Many of the buildings at the Mission are well over a hundred years old. We had to demolish a building last year as it was no longer structurally safe.
· Expense of keeping buildings up to standard
Most of our buildings are showing signs of needing costly upkeep if they are to remain safe. We do have a couple of heritage buildings that, while not our core business, we will continue to maintain and preserve.
· Cost of heating old buildings
Many of the old buildings are not well insulated and heating costs are a major factor. Our power bill is going up 30% this year after a price freeze of three years.
· Difficulty of providing technical support in old buildings
The old buildings, scattered around are not wired for computers or depend on radio links which cause a great deal of trouble. The server room is subject to temperature variations and while we have a portable air conditioning unit this is a makeshift solution.
· Lack of, or limitations on, facilities
Most of the services are working out of buildings that are too small for the current need. This in turn places limitations of the services that we are able to provide. Over crowing places stress on both staff and clients.
· Safety factors
Staff are working in many buildings in the Mission and often work in isolation. This is not safe given the type of clients who use our services. An example of this is that on some afternoons there is only one staff in the building that holds reception. Staff need to work in closer proximity to each other and in many cases need to be able to see each other. We have alarm systems but these are not adequate. It is not safe to have people, who are often incapacitated sleeping upstairs. This is a risk should fire happen. I have highlighted the safety factor as this is really my main concern.
· Expectations of funding providers
Increasingly we are getting indications from funding groups that they expect better amenities that we are able to provide. While this has not yet affected our funding it is an issue we need to be proactive about if we wish to continue to provide some of our services. An example of this is our Thorpe House Detox house.
· Expectation of client group
As happened in the field of aged care near the end of last century community expectations have grown and what was acceptable is now being questioned and in many cases being rejected. The old charity model carried with it the expectation that the poor would be grateful for whatever help they could get. Now, with an increase in human rights and also with the development of the concept of social justice, what was once acceptable is now longer necessarily good enough.
· Ability to attract and keep staff
As numbers of unemployed decreases it is more and more difficult to get and keep good staff. Part of retaining staff is to provide good working conditions. While the Mission will attract people because they are committed to the work they do they still have an expectation that they will work in good surroundings and have the equipment they need to do the tasks required.
· Lack of storage space for foodbank and furniture shop
This has long been a problem for the Mission and many stopgap measures have been tried. Furniture has to be left out in the elements due to lack of storage and this leads to the perception that we do not need or value the donations we receive. The foodbank is under strain as at times we get large donations of end of line or nearly at the “use by date” food and we need to be able to store such goods.
On a smaller level most of the services do not have adequate storage for supplies and records.
· Inability to expend on or provide new services.
The Mission is constantly looking at its services and at community needs. We have identified so that we consider the Mission could meet and that would have a natural synergy with the rest of the work that the Mission does.
Clients of the Mission deserve to have quality services offered in the best possible way and in the best possible facilities. While there is no wish to be opulent or wasteful there is a strong desire to provide help and assistance in a manner that promotes respect for the individual, encourages good behaviour and treats all with dignity.
The trick for us now is how to keep all our services going while we undertake this major re development. We still must have the resources to keep everything operating while we also need new money for our capital expense.
There is a lot of work ahead of us but I firmly believe that it is worth the effort.
The Mission has a proud history working with the poor and oppressed for over 100 years. It has been part of and has the support and encouragement of Anglican Care for over 60 years and has gained help and donations from the people of Canterbury.
The Mission has the infrastructure, the experience and expertise to promote, provide and develop services for those who need them.
Let me know what you think
Michael
· Condition and age of the buildings
Many of the buildings at the Mission are well over a hundred years old. We had to demolish a building last year as it was no longer structurally safe.
· Expense of keeping buildings up to standard
Most of our buildings are showing signs of needing costly upkeep if they are to remain safe. We do have a couple of heritage buildings that, while not our core business, we will continue to maintain and preserve.
· Cost of heating old buildings
Many of the old buildings are not well insulated and heating costs are a major factor. Our power bill is going up 30% this year after a price freeze of three years.
· Difficulty of providing technical support in old buildings
The old buildings, scattered around are not wired for computers or depend on radio links which cause a great deal of trouble. The server room is subject to temperature variations and while we have a portable air conditioning unit this is a makeshift solution.
· Lack of, or limitations on, facilities
Most of the services are working out of buildings that are too small for the current need. This in turn places limitations of the services that we are able to provide. Over crowing places stress on both staff and clients.
· Safety factors
Staff are working in many buildings in the Mission and often work in isolation. This is not safe given the type of clients who use our services. An example of this is that on some afternoons there is only one staff in the building that holds reception. Staff need to work in closer proximity to each other and in many cases need to be able to see each other. We have alarm systems but these are not adequate. It is not safe to have people, who are often incapacitated sleeping upstairs. This is a risk should fire happen. I have highlighted the safety factor as this is really my main concern.
· Expectations of funding providers
Increasingly we are getting indications from funding groups that they expect better amenities that we are able to provide. While this has not yet affected our funding it is an issue we need to be proactive about if we wish to continue to provide some of our services. An example of this is our Thorpe House Detox house.
· Expectation of client group
As happened in the field of aged care near the end of last century community expectations have grown and what was acceptable is now being questioned and in many cases being rejected. The old charity model carried with it the expectation that the poor would be grateful for whatever help they could get. Now, with an increase in human rights and also with the development of the concept of social justice, what was once acceptable is now longer necessarily good enough.
· Ability to attract and keep staff
As numbers of unemployed decreases it is more and more difficult to get and keep good staff. Part of retaining staff is to provide good working conditions. While the Mission will attract people because they are committed to the work they do they still have an expectation that they will work in good surroundings and have the equipment they need to do the tasks required.
· Lack of storage space for foodbank and furniture shop
This has long been a problem for the Mission and many stopgap measures have been tried. Furniture has to be left out in the elements due to lack of storage and this leads to the perception that we do not need or value the donations we receive. The foodbank is under strain as at times we get large donations of end of line or nearly at the “use by date” food and we need to be able to store such goods.
On a smaller level most of the services do not have adequate storage for supplies and records.
· Inability to expend on or provide new services.
The Mission is constantly looking at its services and at community needs. We have identified so that we consider the Mission could meet and that would have a natural synergy with the rest of the work that the Mission does.
Clients of the Mission deserve to have quality services offered in the best possible way and in the best possible facilities. While there is no wish to be opulent or wasteful there is a strong desire to provide help and assistance in a manner that promotes respect for the individual, encourages good behaviour and treats all with dignity.
The trick for us now is how to keep all our services going while we undertake this major re development. We still must have the resources to keep everything operating while we also need new money for our capital expense.
There is a lot of work ahead of us but I firmly believe that it is worth the effort.
The Mission has a proud history working with the poor and oppressed for over 100 years. It has been part of and has the support and encouragement of Anglican Care for over 60 years and has gained help and donations from the people of Canterbury.
The Mission has the infrastructure, the experience and expertise to promote, provide and develop services for those who need them.
Let me know what you think
Michael
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