We are reaching out to you, our people, to ask for your support. The current climate for the Charity and NGO sector is grim. The Government of the day is running a sustained Anti-Trans and Homophobic targeted attack on the Rainbow community through legislation.
Many funding pools have dried up. The funding pools that haven't dried up are being stretched beyond capacity, which means more people applying and less money to be shared. We know of Rainbow organisations that have shut just this year with many others on the very edge just like us.
We need your support urgently to be able to sustain our services into 2025 and beyond. Without help OutLine Aotearoa will close permanently in the new year.
Our services have been in high demand and this year alone we have seen tremendous month on month growth in people asking for our support. The Rainbow community is overrepresented in negative statistics in this country for example, our community is 20% more likely to face homelessness or housing insecurity than the general public. Mental health matters and we deserve specialised services like OutLine a for us, by us model of care. OutLine also provides relief for the already failing health care system by offering early to mid interventions specialising in our community.
We are facing a crisis in the Charity sector. There is very little money to go around. Corporate sponsorship is few and far between because of the political leanings of the country. So we have come to a point where we must ask our people. If you have ever needed someone to talk to, if you know someone who has ever needed someone to talk to, a $20 donation will mean there will be someone at the other end of the line to take a call.
Without us there is a gaping hole in mental health service provision and care for our Rainbow communities. Our services have seen a month on month, year on year increase in demand. We are no longer able to sustain ourselves through funding that is not consistent and that does not give us the opportunity to ensure we can provide safe, equitable care for our communities. Your donation will mean the Rainbow community and their whaanau have that safe, equitable care that everyone deserves.
The truth is we cannot provide services without the financial resource to do so. All donations received allow us to stay open and continue to provide Mental Health services to our communities.