‘Street kids’ get drop-in centre

Press, 10 September 1984, Page 9

‘Street kids’ get drop-in centre

A new drop-in centre for “street kids” will be opened in Christchurch today.

The centre has been established in rooms at the back of the 6A building, in Madras Street, by Te Roopu Awhina Inc. “It took 10 months of knocking on doors,to find suitable premises,” said a youth worker employed by Community Volunteers, Ms Amy Houkamau. “In principle we got a lot of support for the idea, but practically there was nothing. Landlords were not interested in renting to us.” A building that was close to Cathedral Square, had a low rental, and was far enough from neighbouring buildings so that noise would not be a problem was needed, she said.

“Finally 6A offered us the use of its building. It is rent free, but we have to maintain a $lOOO bond which will be used to pay for any damage.” Proposals to establish a drop-in centre were put forward in April last year after a Manchester Street house for “street kids,” run

by Te Roopu Awhina, was closed. Ms Houkamau was employed to find a suitable building and establish the centre. “The aims of the centre are to provide a safe and comfortable environment for young people, with no kinds of expectations put on them,” she said. “We want them to feel the centre is their place and it is for them to decide what should happen at it.” The centre has been equipped with chairs, a television set, an old stereo, carpets, and heaters. The total cost to establish it, including the bond, was about $2500, said Ms Houkamau.

Trying to find even this amount of money was a big problem and Ms Houkamau is critical of the way resources for young people are distributed.

“Te Roopu Awhina is a loosely based group of youth workers, homeless youth, and jobless youth and does not have the skills or contacts of more organised groups,” she said.

“Groups without the right figureheads and contacts seem to miss getting funds.” The City Council, while saying it supported youth activities, seemed to be concentrating its energies on the proposed Christchurch youth centre, she said. "We might not be catering for as wide a group as the youth centre but this group is still very real and very needy.

“I would like the community to be more aware of the lack of resources for young people and the unfair distribution of what resources there are.”

Te Roopu Awhina received money from the Welfare Services Distribution Committee and had been given a grant by the Canterbury Savings Bank, said Ms Houkamau.

Money was needed to pay the centre’s running costs, such as electricity and telephone bills plus a “bit of pocket money” to arrange extra activities.

The centre will be opened by local Maori elders with a ceremony based on a traditional Maori welcome.