Garage dweller overwhelmed by goodwill

You opened your hearts to Destiney. You offered food, furniture, beds and books.

You opened your wallets and even opened your doors.

'Lucy's spoken to her hubby about this situation. They have two spare rooms upstairs in their house and if Destiney wants to, she and her kids can stay there.”


Destiney – subsisting in a cold damp garage in Merivale – has received nothing but warmness and help form the Tauranga community.

It was an emailed offer of a roof, comfort and warmth – a home for the homeless garage dwellers, Destiney and her four children, who featured in The Weekend Sun last Friday.

'Lucy and her hubby are sooo loving and easygoing,” says the email. 'But it's totally up to Destiny and what she wants.”

Destiney has more need than want. And regardless of the suitability of the accommodation, she's overcome by the outpouring of goodwill from Tauranga.

'I sat on the edge of the bed the other night and cried and cried,” says Destiney, who was overwhelmed and even a little scared by all the attention. 'I thought whoa! Everyone just wants to help.”

Destiney's tears were triggered by the kindness of a couple of ladies across the road. She'd been trying for a little anonymity for the sake of her children. But the women did some sleuthing and arrived at Destiney's garage door with a pasta bake, baking, groceries and nappies.

Destiney and her children arrived in Tauranga by bus one dark cold evening recently. They knew no-one and had nowhere to stay. They bunked down in a cold damp garage attached to a state house in Merivale.

'I was just looking for somewhere to stay, somewhere safe and somewhere where my kids could have a warm bath.”

She took a punt, climbed on a bus, explaining 'anything in Tauranga would be better than what we had already suffered”.

Now, things are looking up for the destitute Destiney. Where there was just a mattress on the floor of the garage there's now a queen size bed.

It's still cold and damp in the garage but she's off the ground. Her son may even get some school shoes this weekend. It's a start.

'She's never experienced this level of love and support,” says Kellie Kioa, manager of Te Tawharau o te Ora, an agency which finds homes for the homeless.

'For example, my mother is my Countdown, my Warehouse, my ITM, my doctor – my everything.

'Destiney has never experienced any of that motherly stuff. In fact Destiney, who had nothing, was expected to be the provider for her parents and other family.”

Now Destiney's on the waiting list for a state house.

'I just want to say thank you. And if being open about myself and my troubles can help others, then I will be happy.

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