New Auckland City Mission home HomeGround Photo: Supplied
This week the Auckland City Mission was handed the keys to a brand new nine-storey building on Hobson Street. It’s called HomeGround, and heralds an exciting new phase for the mission’s work. Opening in the new year, the state-of-the-art building includes 80 apartments - for people currently sleeping rough or on the social housing register - as well as facilities for health and social services, a pharmacy, and a shared rooftop garden.
It’s been quite a year for Auckland City Mission - and for new missioner Helen Robinson, who started in the role in April. Robinson comes to the job after four years working in the organisation and a career devoted to social work since she was a teenager, here and overseas.
In 2021, use of the mission’s services skyrocketed, and Robinson had to front foot it on issues of food poverty and homelessness during Covid lockdowns. This Christmas the mission expects to provide 9000 food parcels and ten of thousands of presents.
Helen Robinson joins the show to discuss the mission's work and play a few musical favourites.
Photo: Supplied
