2025 Alumni Charity Update: DCM

DCM’s vital support for Wellington’s most marginalised communities is made possible, in part, thanks to donors who give through One Percent Collective. Here’s a look at some of DCM’s highlights and impact over the past year.

It’s been a big, challenging year.

Across Wellington, we’ve seen the pressure building with rising costs, a tough housing market, and growing need among the people we walk alongside. But through it all, your one percent has made a real difference.

With contributions from the Collective, someone has had food when the cupboards were bare. Someone has been met with care instead of judgement. Someone has had access to mental and physical healthcare, without barriers. Someone has found their way home.

A New Smile for a Fresh Start

When I came to Wellington earlier this year, I was a full-blown addict – drugs and alcohol, homeless, and living on the streets. I’d lost 23 kgs! I was caught up in all the wrong things, hanging around gangs, and spiraling deeper into addiction. But then my first grandchild was born, and that was the turning point for me. I realised I was no good to anyone as an addict. Now, I’ve changed my entire life, and I’m starting rehab tomorrow. I’ve been clean for three months.

Addiction has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. I think my traumatic childhood played a big part, even though I know that’s a bit of a stereotype. Things went from bad to worse ten years ago when I was working on oil rigs in Australia. A lot of the people I worked with used meth to get through the night shifts. One night, I joined in, and within a year, I was hooked.

I found out about DCM through others in the homeless community. I was very unwell, and they encouraged me to come here. When I first came to DCM and started seeing the dentist, I was missing all my top teeth. Not having teeth affected me hugely. I wouldn’t even go outside in public if I could avoid it.

"I felt naked without my teeth. It damaged my self-esteem and confidence and I struggled to eat and talk. It really impacted everything for me."

When I found out DCM could help me get dentures, I was over the moon. Having the dentures gave me my pretty smile back! I can eat and talk again.

Working with the team at the DCM dental clinic was amazing. Sophie (volunteer lead dentist at DCM’s dental clinic) is so down-to-earth and skillful. Everyone was so approachable and kind. They help people so much more than they realise. I’ve also had counselling here at DCM and connected with other people. It’s been such a good experience. Now, I’m housed, with a long-term tenancy agreement.

I’m so glad I met everyone at DCM and grateful that they’ve been a part of my journey. It pays to be vulnerable, to be honest, and to embrace change - change your body, change your life. It starts with being honest with yourself, reaching out, and asking for support.

"There’s nothing but good here at DCM. They help people so much. It’s so much more in-depth than just a set of teeth, it’s humanity."

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DCM's Outreach Service: A Lifeline Like No Other

DCM’s Toro Atu (Outreach) team is not just unique in Wellington, it’s irreplaceable. As the only service consistently offering tailored support to people rough sleeping, the team meets whānau wherever they are and works at their pace. The staff’s expertise in assertive outreach and their dedication to reaching the people our community experiencing homelessness sets DCM apart.

Raya and Grayson, two of the Toro Atu Kaimahi (staff), describe the work as both challenging and rewarding. “People experiencing homelessness, especially chronically, just fall through the cracks,” Raya explains. “They haven’t come across a service or organisation where the support is tailored to the person like at DCM.” Unlike most services that require meeting strict criteria to access help, Toro Atu operates with the flexibility to support people with what they need, regardless of their situation.

The team works in partnership with the Wellington City Council, responding to reports of rough sleepers from the Council, businesses, and the public. They travel by foot or car to locate and talk with individuals. Raya explains, “Often, the people we’re notified about are known to us. Other times, they’re new, and that’s an opportunity to engage, see how we can support, and let them know what’s available. It’s about building trust and relationships, then continuing to follow up as needed.”

Outreach staff carry emergency supplies in their cars such as ready-to-eat food and essential forms for ID or birth certificate applications. “Assertive outreach means meeting people on their terms and on their turf,” Grayson explains. “We respect their boundaries, even if they aren't ready to engage. The assertive part is returning consistently and building trust, rather than labelling someone as the problem. We reflect on what barriers they might be facing and adjust our support to fit their needs."

For those sleeping in isolated areas or feeling nervous or fearful about approaching DCM for support, the team goes directly to them. Raya notes, “If someone is sleeping in a tent in the bush, far from town, it’s usually too difficult for them to access services. So, we go to where they are.” That initiative is part of what makes Toro Atu so effective.

DCM’s outreach service provides a lifeline to the most marginalised and at-risk people in Wellington, stopping at nothing to break the cycle of homelessness. “The people we work with don’t fit into neat little boxes,” says Grayson. “DCM is a beautiful place for those in our city who feel like they don’t belong anywhere else.”

The work is demanding, but for the Toro Atu team, it’s also deeply meaningful. As Raya puts it, “Ending homelessness is a collective responsibility. More people need to step up and say, ‘Let’s tackle this together as a community.’” Grayson agrees, “DCM is the community. Our whānau are the community. The people who support us are our community. We’re all in this together, working towards ending homelessness.

A Safe Place At Last

The worst part of being homeless was the sleepless nights. My ten-year-old daughter would sleep, and I would lie awake, worrying. I worried about how to keep her safe. I worried about how I was going to get her to school in the morning. I worried about how much longer we could keep living like this.

We had been staying with family, but it was not a good place for my daughter. I had to make a choice: stay in an unsafe environment or leave to protect her and try to get by on my own. I chose to leave. That is how we ended up living in my car.

After months of this, someone told me to go to DCM for help. By then, it all felt like too much. I was exhausted. Even with DCM supporting me, I had to wait for (social) housing. I had to be patient and trust that they would find us a place. It took almost five months, but they kept advocating for me and never gave up.

After months of this, someone told me to go to DCM for help. By then, it all felt like too much. I was exhausted. Even with DCM supporting me, I had to wait for (social) housing. I had to be patient and trust that they would find us a place. It took almost five months, but they kept advocating for me and never gave up.

The day they told me they had found us a home, I felt such relief, like all the stress had lifted off my shoulders. My daughter was so happy. We moved into a two-bedroom apartment, and she finally has her own space.

"For the first time in a long time, I felt free. I could take care of myself and my daughter without worrying about where we would sleep."

DCM helped us with everything we needed to get settled, and they still check in to make sure we are okay. They gave us a welcome pack, and at Christmas, they brought us a hamper so we could celebrate together in our new home.

Looking back, I don't know how I got through it. I just knew I had to. I had to give my daughter hope, even on the days when I had none myself. One of the hardest parts was knowing there was somewhere we could go, back to family, but that it was not safe. I had to make a choice no parent should ever have to make.

Now, my daughter has her own room, though she mostly spends time in the living room playing video games. She is enrolled in the local school, and she loves it. We feel like a real family again.

DCM treated me with respect, and they never judged me. Where we were before was so unhealthy, but having our own home has changed everything and it’s helped me to see life differently. Now, when I go to bed, I know my daughter is safe.

"And to anyone going through what I went through, I want to say never give up. Keep trying, and ask for help."

I wish more people knew there was help out there. You just have to ask. Thank you, DCM, for finding us a home. I am so happy that we are here, and that we made it.

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‍Words and images supplied by DCM