As the service manager of BEST advocacy service for beneficiaries and low-income earners, for 22 plus years, I am concerned in the rising stress levels of our most vulnerable members of society. Those out of work, the sick, mentally unwell, those with addictions and the elderly. Their hand to mouth benefit income combined with limited access to doctors, mental health and addiction services is creating growing frustration and growing anger. This along with the latest benefit traffic light sanctions on people out of work, often unwell or living with an addiction, required to seek employment in non-existent jobs or jobs where they are no better off and open to exploitation through 90-day work trials. Then there is the restricting of emergency housing to the homeless who are sent away from work and income offices to find temporary transitional housing and in the meantime left to sleep in cars, our parks and public amenities. Now 18-year-old independent adults, not in work or training, are required to provide their parents income when applying for assistance. Those whose parent’s income are at, a yet to be disclosed amount, will need to hope their parents will continue to provide for them, adding stress to the family dynamics. We are creating a perfect storm which will break, if we the voters, don’t call a halt to the current governments war on the poor and most vulnerable in our communities. Our service, like most service organisation I’m sure, are dealing with at risk people in greater numbers than we have before. They come to us frustrated, frightened, angry and we do our best to assist them but often our hands are tied or the help we can give takes time to achieve leaving them literally at times out in the cold. It is becoming a risk for service providers in terms of staff safety as I am sure it is for those working at the coal face implementing the governments “get tough on beneficiaries” legislation. If the storm that is brewing is not dissipated, we will, I believe see consequences we didn’t envisage but we will all be responsible for not calling a halt to the unjustified attack on out vulnerable, homeless community members.    

Teresa Homan

Service manager

Hutt valley BEST

A “thank you” to Teresa Homan for sending this letter to The Upper Hutt Connection.

30/05/25