IHS Homeless Support Programs
(Shelter-Based Programs)

Collaboration with other agencies and empowerment through skill building for guests and clients inform the delivery of all our programs from emergency food and shelter to supportive case management, housing placement and employment support.

Emergency Shelter services begin with an assessment of a guest’s needs and a triage process that refers the guest to the most appropriate resources both within IHS or to other services outside the shelter. Each guest is linked to an advocate that works with them to achieve goals designed to end homelessness for the individual. If a guest or family has multilayered challenges that could benefit from intensive case management, he/she is assigned to one of our specialized Case Management programs tailored to their needs.

A stay at IHS affords men, women and children a safe place to sleep, hot showers, access to Internet and E-mail, postal mail and telephone service, a place to store a few items, washers and dryers to do laundry. The IHS Meal Program offers three meals a day with the aid of hundreds of volunteers annually. It collects donations from community partners constantly and collaborates with the Hawaii Food Bank to deliver 255,703 hot meals a year to anyone who comes.

IHS has case management programs that specialize in work with homeless individuals.

Our General Case Management program provides initial triage and referral service to all guests and also determines whether a guest might benefit from participation in one of IHS’ specialized case Management teams. Our Community Based Case Management program funded by a contract with the Adult Mental Health Division, Department of Health supports over 120 individuals who have mental illness or have co-occurring substance abuse, problems. Currently about 60% are now living in the community in apartments supported by a case management team, which includes a housing specialist from our Shelter Plus Care programs.

Our TANF Housing Placement program assists low income families facing transition into new rentals often because they have been displaced for a variety of reasons.

• Adult Homeless Program
• Community Based Case Management Program (CBCM)
• Community Reentry Program (CRP)
• Family Program
• Meal Program
• Supportive Health Services Program

Housing

• Employment Program
• Shelter Plus Care Program
• Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)

Adult Homeless Program

IHS provides housing transition and support services for homeless adult men and women (who enter the shelter without any dependents). All men and women are provided with basic emergency shelter services (sleeping accommodations, meals, hygiene, laundry, mail service).

Back to top

Community Based Case Management Program (CBCM)

The Community Based Case Management (CBCM) program serves homeless individuals who are challenged with chronic mental illness. Participants must be declared eligible by the State Department of Health, Adult Mental Health Division. The CBCM team currently serves up to 125 homeless individuals (men or women) at any given time. The initial goal of this program is to help the individuals achieve some stability with obtaining basic needs, safe shelter, financial assistance, and medical insurance. Help is offered symptom management, employment, social supports, skill building, access to specialized services, and enhanced capacity to function independently in the community. Supportive counseling and assistance with linkage to community resources are also key. Services are guided by principle of instilling hope and expanding competency, which involve the participant in developing their personal plan for recovery.

Eligibility:

• Must be referred by AMHD through ACCESS or by another provider
• Must have eligible Axis I diagnosis
• Must be 18 years and older
• Must be homeless or at risk of homelessness

View a brochure (pdf)

For more information:

La Verne Tong, LCSW, BCD
SS Supervisor/CBCM Coordinator
(808) 447-2800 ext 2834
LaverneT@ihs-hawaii.org

Back to top

Community Reentry Program (CRP)

The Community Reentry Program (CRP) serves homeless Men's Shelter guests with substance abuse problems who are on probation, parole, supervised release, or have recently been released from prison with individualized forensic case management services, assistance developing budgeting, employment, and interpersonal skills, and community living skills classes.

The goal of the CRP is to provide eligible participants with the knowledge, skills, and abilities that will assist them with successfully reenter and maintain themselves in the community, without returning to criminal and drug abusing behaviors. CRP supports crucial linkage between participants and their probation/parole/supervised release officers, substance abuse treatment resources, self-help groups, and other community providers. Participants who successfully complete the program receive assistance with first month's rent and/or deposit.

Admission Requirements:

• Adult male homeless guests at the IHS Men’s Shelter
• Carries a substance abuse diagnosis
• Completed sentence, released on parole or granted probation for offense no more than three months prior to applying for program
• Verbalizes motivation and demonstrates commitment to clean and sober living
• Commitment to participate in the CRP after orientation to the program requirements, including random Urine Drug Screening (UDS)

Exclusion Criteria:

• Primary diagnosis of major mental illness (these are referred to IHS CBCM Program)
• Recent violence that would pose a risk to peer safety
• Possession of contraband
• Active substance abuse

View a brochure (pdf)

For more information:

Kanui G. Bell, BA
CRP Coordinator
(808) 447-2900 ext 2912
350 Sumner St
Honolulu, HI 96817
KanuiB@ihs-hawaii.org

Back to top

Family Program

The IHS Family Program is designed to facilitate transition to permanent housing and promote resiliency and skills, which assist families to maintain long term permanent housing. The Family Program focuses on strengthening the entire family unit by addressing the reason for their homeless episode(s) using a strengths-based Case Management perspective.

Staff address communication skills, economic barriers, coping strategies, and supporting the educational concerns of children and steering parents toward ways they can increase their income and employment opportunities. Additional service include medical, psychiatric and substance abuse referral, supportive counseling, domestic violence/trauma counseling, assistance with obtaining entitlements, legal assistants, immigration issues, employment/education referral and assisting with other needs appropriate for each client.

Eligibility:

• Unsheltered families with children under the age of 18, including single parent households
• A willingness to engage in case management and work toward creating a comprehensive service plan
• Completed health screening for all family members

For more information:

Colleen Miyashiro
Family Program Coordinator
(808) 447-2800 ext 2815
ColleenM@ihs-hawaii.org

Back to top

Meal Program

The IHS Meal Program serves 3 hot meals a day - breakfast, lunch, and dinner at both the Sumner and Ka’aahi Shelter. IHS Meal Program utilizes numerous volunteers to provide this service. We also enjoy the support of the Hawaii Food Bank and many faith based and community groups.

• Breakfast is served at 7am
• Lunch is served at 12pm
• Dinner at the women's shelter is served at 5:15pm and the men's shelter is served at 6pm

Eligibility:

• Anyone residing in the shelter
• General public who are in need of food and shelter

For more information:

Ana Iose
Meal Program Manager
(808) 447-2900 ext 2904
(808) 203-8545 (cell phone)
AnaI@ihs-hawaii.org

Back to top

Supportive Health Services Program

Supportive Health Services is offered to guests at both Men’s Shelter and Women’s Shelter.

The goal of the Medical services program is to assure our guests maintain optimal mental and physical health through health screening and early intervention for medical/psychiatric issues, providing preventive health care, as well as offering triage and referral services.

A registered professional nurse coordinates service delivery through multiple collaborations with other Kalihi Palama Health Care, Hepatitis Project, Drug Addiction Services of Hawaii (DASH) and nursing students from Hawaii Pacific University and the University of Hawaii at Manoa.

Services include:

• Medical Triage/Referral
• First Aid
• After hours clinic
• Consultation
• Blood Pressure screening
• Tb Testing
• Hepatitis B and C screening and referral for treatment

For more information:

Jackie Lee, RN,C
Medical Services Nurse Manager
(808) 447-2900 ext 2920
350 Summner St
Honolulu, HI 96817
JackieL@ihs-hawaii.org

Back to top

Employment Program

The Employment Program provides guests with a range of services to improve their employment opportunities.

Eligibility:

• Anyone who is homeless or currently accessing services offered by IHS

Program focus:

• Job readiness
• Job search
• Job development and placement
• Job retention services to homeless men and women who are motivated in finding secure employment

For more information:

Ed Nakamura
Employment Specialist
(808) 447-2900 ext 2907
EdmundN@ihs-hawaii.org

Back to top

Shelter Plus Care Program

Shelter Plus Care program is a supportive housing program that provides housing subsidies coupled with long-term supportive case management services to chronically homeless individuals with disability. Individuals pay 30% of their income toward rent with the program subsidy providing the additional housing assistance payment.

Eligibility:

• Being chronically homeless
• Documented physical and/or mental disability
• Agree to have a representative payee (to insure rent is paid first from income/benefits)
• Allow a minimum of 2 home visits per month by IHS staff

View a brochure (pdf)

For more information:

Heidi Apau
Housing Specialist
(808) 447-2900 ext 2918
HeidiA@ihs-hawaii.org

Annette Pomisino
Housing Specialist
(808)447-2800 ext 2862
AnnetteP@ihs-hawaii.org

Back to top

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)

The TANF program assists eligible families (single-parent or two-parent households with at least one minor child under 18 years of age living in the home) with a security deposit and/or the first month’s rent. We assist eligible participants in obtaining and retaining suitable rental housing, provide case management services, landlord support and mediation of landlord/tenant issues.

Eligibility:

• Resources and assets valued at less than $5000
• Gross monthly income less than 185% of the Federal Poverty Level for household size (to be determined by housing specialist)
• Capable of making future rent payments

View a brochure (pdf)

For more information:

Kookie Faitele
Housing Specialist
(808) 447-2800 ext 2863
KookieF@ihs-hawaii.org

Charles Azada
Housing Specialist
(808)447-2800 ext 2862
CharlesA@ihs-hawaii.org

Back to top