Kick Back Make Change

Clare has signed a major multi-year partnership with Kick Back Make Change, a Tāmaki Makaurau-based organisation filling a critical gap to support rangatahi at risk of, or experiencing, homelessness.

The latest National Homelessness Data Project briefing by The Salvation Army and Community Housing Aotearoa emphasise that the rate of those experiencing homelessness is steadily increasingly with little signs of respite.  Of the increasing amount of people needing assistance, people under 25 make up roughly 50% of the known numbers. As it stands, rangatahi have no pathways into age-appropriate and safe housing opportunities.

Kick Back is currently monitoring over 200 young people through The Front Door -Aotearoa’s first integrated crisis response and early intervention service. Opened in 2024, it was co-designed by young people to provide them everything needed for a peaceful and purposeful life: opportunities for healing and growing, necessities such as housing, health care, mental health and addiction services, long-term navigation support and a loving community.

The ‘Two Loops Model’ is a theory popularised by Margaret Wheatley and Deborah Frieze at The Berkana Institute, which identifies practically how systems change can occur – and is frequently used by some of the Clare Foundation team.

In the first loop, there is a rise of a status quo supported by Stewards who have vested interests in the system doing well. As this occurs, Innovators see that the first loop (current status quo) isn’t working very well. A second loop slowly emerges, with Innovators showing us a new system of operating for the better. Apart of the creation of a new system, are the Connectors who help to make this idea possible, the Hospicers who help the old system to decay safely, and the Storytellers who help influence people and communities of practice to strengthen the new loop.

Through various modes of education, advocacy and piloting innovative solutions to addressing systems gaps for vulnerable young people, Kick Back are a clear example of the Innovators, the Connectors and Hospicers of the Two Loop Model who want to see a world where here no rangatahi ever go without a safe, loving and supportive place to call home.

Kick Back is actively creating a new system to exist. Past just providing opportunities for young people to catch themselves early before a long journey of houselessness, Kick Back continually advocates for large scale changes needed for a full prevention of homelessness, ensuring people are guaranteed to have a life filled with dignity and fruitful opportunities.

Over in Australia, ‘Youth Foyers’ operate in a similar role to Kick Back, providing a 24/7 opportunity for housing and connection for rangatahi across each state and ACT (18 in total) alongside systems-change advocacy. Rangatahi have seen major improvements in their wellbeing and future trajectory. In turn – a new loop emerges:  an opportunity for people to safely grow, connect, and dream as opposed to bearing responsibilities alone.

As Miova notes: “Innovators often rub up against the traditional systems… They’re showing us what the future could look like – if we’re paying attention” – so be sure to Kick Back and pay attention.

Dive deeper:

Helping people experiencing homelessness:

1. Homelessness reaches highest levels in history, Community Housing Aotearoa report finds
2. Rising rates of homelessness among women and children
3. Foyer Foundation Australia – Addressing Youth Homelessness
4. ABC News: After crisis accommodation: Are ‘foyers’ the key to fixing youth homelessness?
5. Homelessness Rising Across New Zealand: Sector Urges Long-Term Solutions

Systems-change, two loop model:

1. Complex Systems Framework Collection – Two Loops Model
2. Miova: Making Sense of Change, the Two Loops Model
3. Rozanna Mimdahl Two Loops Model — Systems Innovation Week 18

Find out more about Kick Back here.