On 10 October 2017, Foundation North announced its largest-ever single grant: a contribution of $10 million to Auckland City Mission’s ‘Mission HomeGround’ project.
This grant joins only a handful of projects to have secured funding from our Iconic Reserve Fund, which sits outside our normal granting budget.
Mission HomeGround is a $90 million project that will include the development of a new mixed-use, eco-friendly building on the Mission’s Hobson Street site, and the restoration of the historic Prince of Wales Hotel.
The Mission’s new multi-storey development, the first timber-framed high-rise building in New Zealand, will include 80 apartments to provide supportive housing for some of central Auckland’s chronic rough sleepers, and low-income Aucklanders on the social housing register. It will also provide a range of services including an expanded detox unit, a health centre and pharmacy, and a community cafe.
The housing will be based on the supportive housing model known as ‘Common Ground’, initiated in New York and now adopted throughout Canada and Australia. This provides 50% of the apartments for the chronically homeless and 50% for other tenants (in the Mission’s case on the social housing register) to ensure a more balanced community is created. With the limited supply of appropriate social housing in Auckland, having this housing is of incredible value for the Mission.
“Foundation North has been an important funder of the Mission’s work for 25 years. This truly significant grant demonstrates that we share a common vision for the wellbeing of the people of Auckland. Foundation North’s grant is also underpinned by a vision that as a community together, we will end homelessness and provide support services to those in our community and neighbourhood who have the greatest needs.”
- Chris Farrelly, Auckland City Missioner
