OUTLine has moved into a new temporary home at the New Zealand AIDS Foundation’s Auckland offices, as it seeks a suitable home to share with Rainbow Youth. Manager Trevor Easton says several months ago OUTLine began negotiations with Rainbow Youth about moving to a shared space. “Not the two organisations joining, but finding premises that suit both of us.” However Rainbow Youth’s lease doesn’t run out until May, and in the meantime OUTLine had been on a month-by-month lease with its landlord at its Three Lamps base in Ponsonby. “He had very generously allowed us to be here for over a year, paying a third of the rent for these lovely premises,” Easton says. “We were hopeful that we might be able to get other people to join us and pay part of the sub-let. That unfortunately wasn’t viable, so for commercial reasons he in the end gave us notice, which is understandable. We were only paying a third of it.” A hunt did not yield anything that would suit the long-term goal of sharing an office with Rainbow Youth. “A number of people offered us options. Some of those fell apart, including the Council, although they are trying to help us,” Easton says. “The AIDS Foundation came up trumps and has offered us a little bit of space at their accommodation. So we’re moving in there today.” Easton expects they will move to a new home sometime early next year. He and Rainbow Youth General Manager Duncan Matthews are now working with a realtor to find somewhere suitable – and any help or input would be welcome. In the meantime Easton is incredibly grateful for the NZAF’s help. The 0800 OUTLine service will be operational from tonight and Easton is thanking all those who helped with the “fairly stressful” move this week.OUTLine is now based at 35 Hargreaves St, St Marys Bay
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Friday, 1st November 2013 - 12:51pm