Catholic Family Support Services

Something About Us: Catholic Family Support Services is the Social Service agency for the Diocese of Hamilton. Our services are home-based and provide the support necessary for people to make fundamental changes to their lives. The ultimate goal is to empower families and individuals to regain control of their own lives. Our commitment is not to foster dependency but independence and confidence. It is not about a “hand-out” but a “hand-up”. We welcome people whatever their beliefs. Our History: Catholic Family Support Service developed out of the Home-maker pilot project launched in Hamilton in 1980. The project was an adaptation of a scheme set up in Holland to assist families at home to forestall the need for institutional care. The service started in Hamilton based on that model.

The scheme which began as a support for families in crises, developed to serve also families with temporary problems. Three Opportunity Shops were set up to support the work of the service, and these operated for a number of years.

It is noteworthy that the Hamilton Catholic Social Services played a significant role in developing the Homemaker scheme nationwide.

In 1989 Hamilton Catholic Social Services joined forces with the Social Welfare Department and a formalized contract was drawn up. The contract was the first of its kind to be signed by the Department and the Catholic Church. It initially ran for three years, and was known as the Home-builder Service. From 1989 Family Support Service has operated under the auspices of the Catholic Diocese of Hamilton.

In 2000, the Catholic, Presbyterian and Anglican Churches established a new initiative of collaboration in establishing Te Ara Hou village, (a social services village where offices and facilities are provided for their Church, and other compatible social services). This is unique in New Zealand.

In 2009, the agency responded to the economic pressures being faced by the community by training six staff to be certified budget advisers. The agency then affiliated with the NZ Federation of Family Budget Services Inc.