Gandhi Nivas changes the lives of the whānau it helps and a new report quantifies the amazing social value to New Zealand of this work preventing family harm.
The GoodMeasures report prepared by ImpactLab for Gandhi Nivas found for every $1 spent on Gandhi Nivas’ Ōtāhuhu house it has returned $12.80 in social value through its support of families based on the two years from January 2018 to December 2019.
It estimates $15,627,480 in social value was created from this house that is one of three Gandhi Nivas locations in Tāmaki Makaurau.
During the period studied 1,856 people were offered help including 650 main clients (53% of whom were Māori or Pasifika), 443 partners, 411 children and 352 other family members.
Benefits from the programme noted in the report included improved: physical and mental health, housing outcomes, employment opportunities and academic achievement. It also considered reductions in risky behaviour, addiction, asthma, family violence, offending, child placement and victimisation.
Total Healthcare PHO has contributed money from its Flexible Funding Pool to Gandhi Nivas since the programme’s inception in 2014 because it recognised this innovative approach to family harm could have a significant impact.
The GoodMeasures report notes the early support Gandhi Nivas offers families ensures that the healing process can start before the damage sets in.
Men are provided with counselling services, practical supports and care plans that aim to keep women and children safe, the report notes.
“The service recognises the impact of family harm on all members of a household, family or wider community by allowing participants to define their family group – the system that people identify as belonging to – all of whom can receive holistic support.
“The respite model that Gandhi Nivas operates facilitates better outcomes for perpetrators and victims. By providing immediate withdrawal from the environment and situation that led to an incident of family violence, perpetrators are able to more effectively address their behaviour and consider the triggers that led to the event.
“For victims, remaining in their homes allows them to maintain access to their natural support networks and avoid the trauma of being displaced from their family home.”
Find out more about the report prepared by ImpactLab:
