Addressing homelessness in Auckland while delivering sustainable legacies

Auckland City Mission – Te Tāpui Atawhai HomeGround facility stands as a beacon of hope and compassion in New Zealand's largest city. Designed to address the complex issue of homelessness, HomeGround offers much more than just a roof over one's head. It aims to transform lives and empower individuals through comprehensive support services, fostering social outcomes that extend far beyond the walls of the building.

A holistic approach to homelessness

The HomeGround facility adopts a holistic approach to addressing homelessness, recognising its multifaceted causes such as mental health challenges, addiction, poverty, and social exclusion. By offering a range of integrated services, the facility aims to tackle these underlying issues and provide a pathway towards stability and self-sufficiency.

HomeGround houses 80 warm and modern apartments, a state-of-the-art health centre, two floors dedicated for managed withdrawal services, and communal spaces for dining, activities, and workshops. The design for HomeGround is based on two principles: trauma-informed principles, which encourage light, space, and earthy tones; and Te Aranga (Māori design) principles – a process guided by Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei.

Comprehensive support services

One of the key social outcomes of the HomeGround facility is the provision of comprehensive support services. These services include access to healthcare, mental health counselling, community, and educational programmes. A key support service feature that makes HomeGround a standout is the managed withdrawal services housed on levels two and three for people recovering from alcohol or other drugs. Level two is operated by Te Whatu Ora for those needing medical support and level three by the Mission staff. To help people withdraw safely, the withdrawal service floors have been designed with increased safety and anti-ligature features.

Further design considerations account for occupant privacy by connecting lifts from the withdrawal service floors to the basement. This allows discrete emergency transport to hospital via an ambulance. By addressing fundamental needs with a holistic approach, the facility can provide people with the necessary support to overcome barriers and regain control of their lives.

Community integration and empowerment

The HomeGround facility recognises the importance of social connections and fosters an inclusive environment where individuals feel a sense of belonging. Each day, HomeGround serves up to 300 hot and nutritious meals through its community dining room Haeata.

HomeGround also has several communal spaces, vital for engaging the community and tenants in life-enriching activities and workshops to relearn or learn new skills. Encouraging participation in these activities, fosters a sense of belonging, develops valuable skills, rebuilds confidence, and establishes strong networks for life.

Providing long-term housing

Approximately half of the tenants at HomeGround come from the Housing First Programme – a social housing initiative to move people experiencing homelessness into stable, safe, and warm housing. By offering continued assistance and follow-up services, the facility provides ongoing support and transitional housing to ensure individuals have a smooth transition into independent living, significantly reducing the risk of individuals falling back into homelessness and promoting long-term stability and self-sufficiency.

Positive impact on the broader community

The HomeGround facility's positive outcomes extend to the broader community. By addressing homelessness in a comprehensive and compassionate manner, the facility reduces strain on emergency services, hospitals, and the criminal justice system. It contributes to a safer and more cohesive community where individuals are given the opportunity to rebuild their lives and contribute positively to society.

The delivery of HomeGround itself sought to achieve equitable outcomes for vulnerable populations. This was achieved with an accreditation and membership in ‘Mates in Construction’ – a suicide prevention programme – and provisions for learning and development, youth work programmes, and resident apprenticeships.

New Zealand’s first large-scale high-rise cross-laminated timber (CLT) building

Not only a significant social milestone, HomeGround is also a landmark facility being New Zealand’s first large-scale high-rise CLT building. Compared to conventional concrete and steel structures, CLT currently represents an innovative approach that reduces costs, labour time, improves earthquake performance, and minimises carbon emissions.

AECOM, as the structural engineer, helped design a concrete podium structure on the basement ground and first floor to support the CLT main structure, while an exterior cross-brace provides lateral stability.

Other sustainable features include edible rooftop gardens, sort-at-source waste management, harvesting of rainwater, use of prefinished and prefabricated products to reduce waste and construction time, and maximising energy efficiency using passive and natural cooling, CLT panels, terracotta tiles, external insulation, and high-performance window suites and glazing.