Monte Cecilia Housing Trust - 30 years, 1982-2012
6 November, 2012 - 25 November, 2012
Little Gallery
Monte Cecilia Housing Trust has been supporting families faced with a housing crisis for 30 years. To mark this anniversary, the Trust is sharing its story in a historic exhibition, back where it all began - at the Pah Homestead; home to the Trust for it's first twenty years.
Monte Cecilia Housing Trust has a vision of a society in which everyone in Aotearoa New Zealand has access to adequate, affordable, and secure housing; as of right regardless of race, religion, income or social status. This historic exhibition will include a series of montage display boards depicting the work of Monte Cecilia Housing Trust over the past 30 years.
The story begins with the Society of St Vincent de Paul, the Sisters of Mercy and the Marist Brothers - who established the service at the Pah Homestead in 1982. For twenty years, hundreds of homeless families came to live at the "Lucky house". The service moved to Mangere in 2002, where it still operates today. Images include: the Pah Homestead; Sisters of Mercy; community housing; a depiction of substandard housing in Auckland, events, open days and visits from politicians and local councillors. Historic newsletters, testimonials and descriptions of the Trust's service and a short DVD showing excerpts from oral history interviews with present staff and trustees will also be on display. A comments book will be available to share memories of the Pah Homestead and Monte Cecilia Housing Trust.
The Trust continues to have a strong commitment to seek justice for the homeless and to advocate for affordable housing for low income families. The Trust has collaborated with many to seek tenancy protection legislation and to lobby local and central government about the associated social, health an economic issues facing families with a housing crisis. The exhibition therefore also looks at what is 'Housing justice'.
This exhibition coincides with events to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Trust in 2012.