Mission Statement

IHS is committed to serving people who are homeless in our community, providing the basic human needs of food, clothing and shelter in an environment of compassion, fairness and dignity. We seek to significantly improve the lives of our guests by providing supportive services which are professional, equitable and transformative. (Adopted 12/04)

Vision Statement

We believe that all people in our community have the right to safe, affordable, and decent housing. IHS is committed to a leadership role in changing this belief into a reality. IHS will continue to provide temporary shelter while working to end chronic homelessness through innovative collaborations and strategic programs. (Adopted 12/04)

IHS remains the only 24-hour walk-in, emergency shelter on Oahu and continues to provide a full range of services to men, women and families with children who are homeless. The agency operates two facilities in Honolulu, one for men at 350 Sumner Street, capable of serving up to 240 men each night and the other, for women and families, at 546 Ka`aahi Street, serving up to 60 single women and 23 families with as many as 60 children daily. The agency strives to be ADA compliant and will make reasonable accommodations for people with disabilities.

Services provided directly to Oahu’s citizens who are homeless:

• In fiscal year 2005, IHS provided shelter to a total of 2,012 unique individuals (1,295 individual men, 419 individual women, 68 families with 179 children under 18).
• The agency provided an average of 800 nutritious meals each day. Over 300,000 meals over the course of the year!
• 24% of the guests at the men’s shelter are Veterans.
• 70% of families who are case managed transition to alternative housing within 3 months.

Other support services provided by IHS include:

• Emergency Services: Meals, shelter, hygiene facilities and supplies, phone and mail service, free clothing, access to laundry facilities.
• Health Care: Healthy baby care including childhood disease inoculation, dental care and general health screenings at on-site clinics located at both shelters.
• Counseling: Housing placement, mental health counseling, substance abuse counseling, financial management, and GED Preparation.
• Education & Employment: Adult education classes, work retraining and job search skills, life-skills instruction.
• Special Support: Legal consultation, ongoing support such as Alcoholics Anonymous & Narcotics Anonymous, domestic violence programs, parenting education and child-care, Kokua Account (a savings account administered by IHS and accessible through a Case Manager).