Grant aids homeless services
By James Gonser
Advertiser Urban Honolulu Writer
Twelve groups that provide homeless services will be given a share of $925,371 awarded through the city's Emergency Shelter Grant Program to provide aid to O'ahu's homeless population.
Recipients include: • Alternative Structures International, Ohana Ola O Kahumana Transitional Shelter, $40,000 • Angel Network Charities, $50,000 • Catholic Charities Community and Immigrant Services, $54,000 • Child and Family Service, $35,800 • Community Assistance Center, $15,000 • Hale Kipa Inc., $69,000 • Homeless Solutions, Loliana Apartments, $20,000 • Homeless Solutions, Vancouver House, $55,000 • Kalihi Palama Health Center, $73,093 • Mental Health Kokua — Safe Haven Project, $194,273 • Salvation Army Family Services Office, $45,107 • Wai'anae Community Outreach, $72,098
The largest grant, $202,000, is earmarked for homeless programs at the Institute for Human Services.
$925,000 will help agencies
"We count on this support on an annual basis," said Lynn Maunakea, executive director at the institute. "We depend on it as support for our ongoing services."
Maunakea said the money will be used for shelter services, staff payroll, waste management and utility bills.
The institute operates two shelters, one for men and one for women and children on O'ahu. It operates with an annual budget of about $3.5 million and provides food, clothing, legal and medical services, showers and substance-abuse treatment for hundreds of homeless people every night.
The Emergency Shelter Grant Program supports existing shelters around the island and supportive services for a cross-section of the homeless population, including abused spouses and children, the mentally ill, substance abusers, families and youth.
"These 13 grants for 12 projects continue the city's commitment to work with nonprofit agencies to help 2,000 clients currently in a homeless situation or on the verge of being homeless," said Mayor Jeremy Harris. "These grants are another example of the private nonprofit and the public sectors working together to help solve homelessness."
The money granted is about the same as last year, according to the city.
There are more than 7,000 homeless people on O'ahu, according to state figures.
The homeless population is served by dozens of groups that target specific needs among street people, from mental illness and drug addiction to those who have lost their jobs or simply drop out of society.
Reach James Gonser at jgonser@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2431.
