Social action in New Zealand welcomes 150 people
On Sunday, 25/2, the most vulnerable groups in Auckland, New Zealand, had a social action coordinated by Unisocial.
The objective was to bring snacks and soft drinks, as well as emotional support and haircut services to those in need — such as the homeless and those who were abandoned by their families.
It is estimated that 150 people benefited from the initiative, held in Freyberg Park, in the central region of the city.
Auckland is the largest city in New Zealand: it has around 1.7 million residents, almost a third of the citizens of the entire country.
For at least a decade, New Zealand has suffered from growing economic inequality, as Stats NZ reports. The official body reveals, for example, that, in 2021, the richest 20% held 69% of the total net worth of families across the country. This means that, like other metropolises, Auckland has a considerable homeless population: 18,417 people, according to the 2018 census by the University of Otago. The record, the last one made and before the pandemic, showed an increasing trend.
Confidence in the future
According to the person responsible for the action, Wellington Passos, those most in need in Auckland tend to have difficulties with housing — which is very expensive in the city — in addition to low wages, unemployment and health problems. “The cost of living is extremely high,” he emphasises.
He brings further reflections on the profile of vulnerable groups in the area: “Many no longer have hope and do not see a way out of their financial, mental and emotional situation”. From this initiative, the social program provided a little comfort, benefiting 150 people. And it showed that things can improve. “We don’t just bring food and personal hygiene care, but affection and attention that help to restore each individual’s hope for a different future”, concludes Wellington.
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