Since February 2016 Catholic Social Services have collaborated with Red Cross and the Wellington Anglican Diocese to set up homes for former refugees who arrive in Wellington under the refugee quota scheme.

From when this project began in 2016 to the last intake just completed (December 2019) we have set up 291 homes in Wellington (representing 902 individuals from a number of different faith communities) to help them settle into the Wellington region.

In the period January to December 2019, we have set up houses for 47 households (representing 127 individuals) for former refugees from Afghan–Hazara, Columbia, Iraq, Myanmar, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Syria and Yemen. Next year the first group of families who will arrive are due in February 2020.

This work involves connecting with our parish communities and enlisting their help to collect household items and then to set up the kitchens, bedrooms, bathrooms, linen cupboards and pantries for each house. This is a significant undertaking but immensely rewarding to be able to provide this support. Our parishioners have joined us in this project with enthusiasm and generosity and it is only with their support that this work can continue.

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