Located next to Kaua'i Economic Opportunity Inc., the emergency shelter has overnight accommodations for up to 19 people. The transitional housing portion has room for up to 20, with individuals and families being allowed to stay for a maximum of 24 months.

Kaua'i County is leasing the site to KEO to operate the facility. Eligibility for the programs will be determined through KEO's intake process.

"It is truly heartwarming that nearly 40 people in our community who don't have anywhere else to turn to can now find temporary shelter," Mayor Bryan Baptiste said in a news release. "We are thankful for the partnerships among government and community leaders on this project that have resulted in the opening of the shelter."

In 2004, Gov. Linda Lingle transferred use of the site to the county through an executive order and lease agreement.

A former Lihu'e school building located on the parcel was repositioned, renovated and transformed into the emergency shelter. Four portable buildings that once housed county offices were relocated from behind the Kaua'i War Memorial Convention Hall to the project site, refitted, and now serve as transitional housing units.

The project was developed with more than $2 million dollars in federal, state and county funds.

Acknowledging that there are probably hundreds of homeless on Kaua'i, Baptiste reaffirmed his commitment to developing short- and long-term solutions to address this issue.

"Currently there are a number of housing projects on the drawing board at various stages of development that will help ease the housing crisis we are faced with," he said.

One of the projects, called Ka Uapo (The Bridge), is scheduled for completion next month. Ka Uapo will provide temporary transitional housing for 20 families with children and prepare them for permanent affordable housing units that are slated to be built on Kaua'i over the next two years.

After the participants in Ka Uapo move into permanent housing, the facility will be converted to office space for state agencies.

"This project was developed in partnership with the state and KEO for working families with children who simply can't afford today's high rents," Baptiste said, adding that he is hopeful the families will be able to move in before Christmas.