Solution closer for street kids

Press, 3 August 1985, Page 9

Solution closer for street kids

The Christchurch street kids’ eviction dilemma came another step closer to being solved yesterday after a meeting at the Rehua Marae. After a Housing Corporation eviction order last week, the Minister of Housing, Mr Goff, said the street kids could stay at Maranga House in Durham Street only if they accepted a controlling body, reduced their numbers, and improved their behaviour. The Anglican Maori Mission said it would take responsibility for Maranga House, provided funds were available. It met people from the Social Welfare Department, the Housing Corporation, and the street kids, for three hours yesterday to discuss Mr Goffs conditions. “We have got the foundations now — it’s just a matter of working things

out fully,” said the mission’s community development officer, the Rev. John Gray. “It is a sensitive issue and a lot of good came out today.” The Housing Corporation’s manager of rental housing, Mr Charles Consedine, said the corporation had given the street kids another month at Maranga House so that the issue could be worked out. “I don’t think all the problems have been identified yet. There will be ongoing dialogue for some time,” he said. The assistant director of Social Welfare, Mr Doug Seller, said more work would need to be done in “small, cool groups” to hammer out the conditions. “There were 50 or more people there yesterday and you cannot get down to the nitty gritty with that many people,” he said. “The final resolution is still a distance

away.” One problem was that Maranga House was overcrowded and homes would need to be found for the overflow of people. “We may find that some have homes they could return to, with help,” Mr Seller said. “We could also find there are people there who should be in our Social Welfare facilities (such as children’s homes)” “That has to be knocked on the head,” he said. “That house might be the right and proper place for a runaway to stay, but they must go there by the right way — not as a runaway.” The Maori Mission would be eligible for Social Welfare grants to set up Maranga House, he said. “Social Welfare will be on tap with our welfare services, such as counselling, employment advisory and benefits and grants.”