Thread by @AeJayHendry

Sooooo many reckons about our homeless whānau on @NewstalkZB / @KerreMcIvor show.

The idea that somehow homeless whānau stealing Kai is about entitlement and lack of consequences fails to grasp the issue...

Let's put this in context. We have whānau, suffering from such extreme poverty that they are living on our streets. Many of these whānau are mentally unwell, have disabilities, and have exp significant truama in their lives. Materially they have little to nothing.

Accessing the benefit is also not that easy when ur sleeping rough. From the moment u walk in the door there are barriers, homeless whānau often report exp discrimination and that they don't get the support they need. Simple things like having a bank acc can become a barrier...

... that not everyone is able to overcome. Than think about the cost of Kai, where do you store Kai if your living on the street? How wld u budget if u had to shop everyday? If my household weren't able to do a bulk shop evryweek, nd instead had 2 shop every day 4 wht we need...

...we would struggle. But hw do u manage a bulk shop when ur living out of a trolley on queenstreet?

B4 we discuss entitlement and privilege, let's examine where those criticism r coming from. Those making these claims about our whānau have a home, have access to Kai...

... have what they need. Yes, some - not all - our street whānau steal. But, what would you do if you were hungry?

The real problem here isn't our whānau.

It's the apathy that can criticise a person who is homeless, while remaining silent on the systemic issues tht have denied that person their basic human rights.

#LoveIsTheWay