On the 16 September 2025, Jolie Leach—senior leader at Lifewise and qualified clinician—was honoured to represent the Lifewise whānau at Auckland’s Mayoral Forum, sharing her lived experience and vision for a compassionate, inclusive city. Jolie’s address brought the realities of homelessness and addiction directly to those with the power to drive change.
The forum provided a platform for Jolie to speak not only as a professional, but as someone who has journeyed through addiction, prison, and homelessness. “Even now, there’s still a whisper inside me that says, ‘You don’t belong here,’” she shared. That whisper, born from years spent on the margins, is a familiar echo for many of our whānau—those Aucklanders who daily encounter doubt, stigma, and a system that does not always see their worth.
Jolie’s speech resonated with the heart of Lifewise’s mission: restoring dignity and belonging, not just providing shelter. “At Merge, we confront that whisper every day,” she said, referencing the lived-experience team at Merge Café who meet people on the street with aroha—offering a hot meal, a safe space, and someone who truly sees them. For many, Jolie explained, Merge is the first step back to housing, to recovery, to a sense of self-worth.
But, as Jolie powerfully argued, compassion alone cannot mend a broken system. Auckland’s housing crisis is growing, with more and more families forced to sleep rough each night. “This isn’t just about shelter—it is about belonging, about mana, about dignity.” She spoke of the constant struggle for humanity on the streets, of the barriers faced at Work and Income, and of the indignity often experienced in unsafe or unsuitable housing.
Referencing her personal journey after prison, Jolie made it clear that homelessness is not the result of personal failure but of systemic failure. The turning point, she shared, was being seen for her potential rather than her past. “That is exactly what we must do for our whānau: believe in their potential, not punish them for their struggles.”
Leadership, Jolie urged, must centre our most vulnerable: “Auckland needs leaders who put the right to a decent home at the heart of every decision, who restore focus on affordable housing, who invest properly in homelessness services, and who choose compassion over suspicion.”
Jolie’s voice is a reminder that equality for those on the margins is not just a policy goal—it’s the only path to hope.
As Auckland’s leaders look ahead, Jolie’s words ring clear: “Safe housing is not a privilege—it is a fundamental human right. The cost of inaction will always be paid by the most vulnerable in Auckland—and that is a price too high for our whānau who are worthy of a better future.”
If you would like to support Lifewise and its work or learn more about Jolie’s message, reach out to our team or visit Merge Café to see the power of belonging in action.
To watch Jolie’s speech, click on the video below:
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