With the scarcity and rising cost of housing, dedicating an apartment building for recovering mentally ill patients and substance abusers increases their chances of success, said Abby Paredes, executive director of Po'ailani. The organization treats about 325 people a year and specializes in people with multiple problems, such as mental illness and substance abuse.

Too many of them end up on the street because of discrimination or high rental costs, Paredes said.

The building's owner, Evans Yim, placed his trust in Po'ailani to operate the units, and in return the treatment center promised to take care of the structure, she said.

"It's a huge thing to be able to collaborate with a property owner that is willing to give back to the community," Paredes said.

Evans Yim, owner of the building, and Abby Paredes of Po'ailani Inc. check out the second floor of the Kailua apartment building that will be run as a halfway house by Po'ailani. Construction firms and anti-drug groups in the community are helping to renovate the building. Bruce Asato • The Honolulu Advertiser

Po'ailani is leasing the building at a reasonable rate and will sublease to tenants, she said.

"There is such a major lack of housing," she said. "We've got to make these opportunities happen."

The building was trashed by previous renters, and volunteers have offered their help and money to improve it, Paredes said, adding that fixing up the structure is their way of repaying the owner's kindness.

Seven truckloads of broken furniture, abandoned appliances and other discarded items that littered the sidewalk in front of the building have been removed, she said.

Sometime this month volunteers will work on the building, painting, planting flowers and assessing the needs of the structure, said Gary Wiseman, president of Associated Builders and Contractors. ABC, a nonprofit construction trade association, will provide student apprentices to help with the work, and members of the organization will lend a hand, Wiseman said.

"We've asked them for a wish list and we're going to help them write the wish list," Wiseman said.

For the first time in its fund-raising history, the ABC will donate to Po'ailani half of the net proceeds the organization earns from its annual golf tournament, he said. In the past that amount was about $5,000, but the goal this year is to earn $10,000.

The ABC wanted to highlight drug problems in the industry and bring awareness to a treatment center that could help construction workers, Wiseman said.

In construction, if a worker tests positive for drug use, he is fired. But if employers know about treatment programs, they can refer employees who then might stand a chance of regaining their jobs, he said.

The anti-drug group No Drug Zone Kailua and Castle Medical Center also donated money to improve the building.

Castle Medical Center gave $1,000 and sees the money as a way to advance the center's mission to improve the health of Windward residents, said David Earles, administrative director of marketing for the center. The center donates small amounts to many Windward groups, including Little League, soccer and community events.

"This seems a good way to leverage a small amount of money to hopefully make a difference in the ice and drug abuse that goes on on the Windward side," Earles said.