Kylie* is a young mum with a toddler daughter Maia*. She had accrued substantial debt and was living in a two-bedroom house with five other adults. The house was far too small for the number of people living there, it was dirty, and some of the adults were consuming alcohol and using drugs. It was not an environment where Maia could thrive, and not what Kylie wanted for her child.

Two-year-old Maia was presenting challenging behaviour, and Kylie was worried about her young daughter being around adults with such unhealthy habits. She knew their home situation was harmful but was struggling to find a way to make positive changes.

Kylie also found it difficult to manage Maia’s behaviour. Toddlers can be hard work. Often the only way they can express their feelings is through their behaviour. When there is also the pressure of a stressful home environment, worry about debt, and anxiety that you’re not being the parent you want to be, it’s hard to have the energy to reassure your distressed child.

Although Maia was enrolled in a Barnardos Early Learning Centre, often Kylie was too stressed to get her there. While she knew Maia needed a good routine and to socialise with other children, some days everything was just too hard, and it was easier to keep Maia at home.

Kylie was stressed, unhappy, and life was overwhelming her.

Kylie knew she might be able to get some help from Barnardos Early Learning Centre in Māngere where Maia is enrolled to attend three times a week. There was a Kaimanaaki Whānau Worker (family support worker) at the centre who Kylie knew had helped other families.

She decided to take the plunge and reached out for help.

Kaimanaaki Whānau Worker, Marama*, visited Kylie at home to find out what challenges she was facing. To start with, it was difficult to get Kylie to open up; she was reluctant to speak in front of her mum. To make it easier for everyone, Marama and Kylie went for a walk in the garden where they could talk freely and start to make a plan.

Kylie and Maia’s immediate needs weren’t being met. Because debt repayments were being automatically deducted from Kylie’s account.

there was usually very little money for healthy food, let alone clothes for a growing toddler. Marama was able to provide some supermarket and clothing vouchers that Kylie could use to buy some items that they really needed.

Marama also referred Kylie to a financial mentor. The financial mentor helped Kylie talk to her creditors to help agree on a fair and more sustainable repayment plan. Together they created a practical budget, manageable in the longer term.

Kylie told Marama that she’d really like support to talk to Work and Income. She found dealing with them extremely stressful and confusing. With support from Marama, Kylie’s access to her entitlements were clarified, reducing a lot of worry for Kylie.

Marama and Kylie also looked at finding a better living situation for Kylie and Maia. With support from Kāinga Ora, Kylie and Maia moved into a small apartment. It’s a clean, safe, and stable place for them to build a home, giving Maia a chance to thrive.

Maia is now attending Māngere Early Learning Centre for every session she’s booked in for. She loves it! She has some routines and structure that she’d been missing and the centre has regular coffee mornings which are giving Kylie a chance to connect with other parents.

It’s still tough. Kylie’s debts are not gone, but they are manageable. There’s still no money for extras. But now she feels in control of her life, is developing a support network, and can focus on being a mum.

Thanks to your support, Marama was able to provide Kylie and Maia with the support they needed, when they needed it. Your support meant that Kylie could make Maia’s education and wellbeing her top priority. Because of you, they’re on their way to a brighter future.

Thank you so much!

*To protect the client’s privacy, names have been changed and models used.

Kylie and Maia now have a brighter future!

Thank you for your support