The chair of an Auckland marae supporting the homeless is commending those who have had the courage to accept its help.
Te Puea Memorial Marae has housed 21 families in just under two weeks and has helped some of them get paid jobs.
Its chair, Hurimoana Dennis, says based on those outcomes, agencies helping the homeless cannot keep applying a business as usual approach.
He believes a kaupapa Maori approach would be a key long-term solution for the current housing crisis.
Mr Dennis said overcrowding, eviction, poverty, family violence, substance abuse and bureaucracy have all individually or collectively played a part in the families coming to the marae.