Workers have completed the first, and largest, phase of a $28 million project to transform the former First Presbyterian Church in Makiki into a "one-stop shop" and headquarters for Catholic Charities Hawaii, and clients are already looking for services at the new site aimed at making it easier for people to get help.

Construction on the project began in 2005, and is expected to wrap up in March 2010.

Once all the work is finished, the Keeaumoku Street site will house more than 30 of the nonprofit's programs, which had been scattered across five offices in the urban core.

"There's no better time (to open the center) because of the ... demand for the kinds of services that Catholic Charities offers has never been higher," Jerry Rauckhorst, president and chief executive officer of the nonprofit, said yesterday during a media tour. "Our calls have increased daily just because of the economic pressures that are on families and individuals in our community."

Catholic Charities, one of the largest social service organizations in the Islands, serves more than 60,000 people statewide annually, regardless of their faith. Their programs include rental assistance and programs to help people get off the streets.

The first phase of work included much of the renovation of the 16,000-square-foot program center, located in the old church sanctuary. The center has office space for program employees along with meeting space to interview clients. Employees started moving into the center three weeks ago, and about 40 workers moved in last weekend. Some 95 employees are in the building that will house 150 workers.

Rauckhorst said the beauty of the new center is that those seeking help will be interviewed in an intake center so that their needs can be assessed quickly and they can connected with programs almost immediately.

That wasn't happening at the former, scattered offices because related programs didn't always share a site.

The new headquarters "has been a vision ... in the making for many, many years," he said.

"We're finally going to be able to have that more welcoming, permanent, integrated approach."

As work on the project continues, so does fundraising. So far, Catholic Charities has raised $17.1 million for the project.

The $28 million pricetag includes the acquisition of the 2.2-acre property, which cost $15.4 million.

Rauckhorst said despite the tough economic times, he is confident fundraising goals will be met. The nonprofit is looking to raise about $1 million during the remainder of this year. Next year, it wants to raise about $10 million. It will also need to do additional fundraising to renovate other portions of the campus.