McDonald, who documented her struggle on YouTube, suffered from respiratory infections while immunocompromised, with her health deteriorating after she was unable to secure stable housing or access financial aid to support her living situation.
The Decline of a Vulnerable Life
Caitlin McDonald’s life shifted from a recovery following a 2016 kidney transplant to a cycle of homelessness beginning in 2022. After an eviction in Wellington, she moved to Christchurch, but her health remained precarious due to the immune-suppressing medication required to prevent organ rejection. By May 2025, she was living in central Christchurch, and on May 24, she was found dead on a couch in a St Albans flat.
YouTube as a Final Witness
Over her final years, McDonald filmed more than 460 videos on her phone, providing an intimate, often raw account of life on the streets. In these clips, she described the “horror” of sleeping at bus stops and in parks, while also finding moments of beauty in the city’s light and foliage. In a May 2023 video, she noted, “Someone can sort of piece it all together about how much damage can be done to a person before their body gives up.” Her mother, Wendy Proffitt, stated that McDonald used the platform as an “emergency contact” when she felt ignored by the systems meant to assist her.
Bureaucratic Hurdles and Denied Support
McDonald’s efforts to stabilize her life faced significant administrative barriers. In March 2025, she applied to withdraw $48,000 from her KiwiSaver funds on the grounds of serious illness, with her doctor certifying she was at imminent risk of death. Public Trust declined the application, stating there was insufficient detail regarding a terminal diagnosis. A spokesperson for Public Trust later apologized, admitting they could have contacted her medical practitioner for more information. Additionally, McDonald engaged in a persistent dispute with the Ministry of Social Development (MSD) over emergency housing eligibility.
The Path Forward for Homelessness Policy
The death of Caitlin McDonald has prompted her mother to seek accountability from government agencies, including the Ministry of Social Development and the Public Trust. Proffitt argues that the tightening of emergency housing criteria in 2024 exacerbated the risks for individuals like her daughter.
