After living it rough and off grid with her four children, Gabrielle moved into our brand-new Social Rental home in Kerikeri in April this year.
“I came to know about Habitat after receiving a Winter Warmer pack, and when I heard they had these rental homes coming up I asked if I could apply.
Since moving in here our lives have changed so much. We now have running water and a bathroom, simple things like washing the kids and being able to do washing is easy. Things other people take for granted. It feels good to be able to use a proper toilet, proper shower, all of it.
We had a roof over our heads before and were grateful for that, but it wasn’t a healthy home and obviously one with problems. Covid made it hard for us to find a suitable home, so we ended up living rough. A lot has changed. Now I’m able to see clearly and think about our futures.
What I love the most about being in this Habitat home is that my kids are warm and healthy. Before there was mould everywhere, it was just a constant. All their coughs and colds have gone. My youngest had asthma right from the time she was born, and now nothing.”
Our lives are so much easier and healthier now.
