Social network changes with times

Homebuilders Community Services has now become Otamatea Community Services.

The first Homebuilders was set up in 1989 after Rose Plunkett of Maungaturoto Care and Share responded to a government initiative to provide home-based support for families with at-risk children.

The group came together: Rose, Jan Robinson, Rosemary Jones, Jan Robinson, Stephanie Wilson, Sophianna Tipene, Ann Dewhurst, and later on Patricia Hunt. All underwent rigorous training including study of related topics, and the Treaty of Waitangi, at the Auckland College of Education.

Peter and Martha Walters were kaumatua and kuia advising on cultural issues. 

Most of these people continued active involvement for over a decade of dedicated work as the clientele expanded rapidly.

The Homebuilders policy was to have a small infrastructure with a discreet office set up in Rose Plunkett’s home for paperwork and contact with government agencies. 

The prime focus was giving confidential support within the client’s home. 

This was no ‘humble beginning’. In the early days Homebuilders was used by the government as a pilot group, working with consultants to write and test new systems with the Department of Social Welfare  and Community Funding Agency putying in a lot of time and effort setting up the organisation in accordance with government directives. 

Rose, Rosemary, Jan, Patricia and several others left a significantly changed organisation some five years ago, but Rose and Rosemary, still seeing a need for an organisation run strictly on the founding principles of Homebuilders, started Youth and Whanau Focus South Kaipara Inc. This organisation is approved under standard S403 of the CYFS Act 1989 and receive referrals from CYFS, Police and other organisations.

Those involved in the early Homebuilders thank the community for their initial support and for their ongoing support of Youth and Whanau Focus South Kaipara Inc. It is much appreciated.