Helping clients find permanent homes

10 Feb Helping clients find permanent homes

Our Housing Program consists of a constellation of services, all centered around the same goal: helping IHS guests and clients reach sustainable permanent housing. How a client reaches this milestone, and the resources they tap into to achieve it, varies from person to person. 

Guest – Someone who takes shelter at one of our facilities.
Client – Someone who participates in a service, such as case management or employment services. 

We believe that having a safe, permanent space to sleep every night is a basic human necessity. Housing insecurity (also known as unstable housing) has far reaching effects, including increased (sometimes debilitating) mental and emotional stress, food insecurity, decreased job and school attendance and performance, lack of sleep, poor physical health, and inability to plan beyond the present.

So, what is permanent housing? 
Permanent Housing refers to a housing lease made in a client’s name. It’s stable housing with consistent funds to pay for it. Permanent housing includes government subsidized, affordable housing, or supportive housing. 

Housing models fulfilling different needs

Most of our housing program clients now reside in apartments or homes managed by independent landlords. A few, however, are part of the continua of care provided by IHS. Locations managed or serviced by us include:

Kahauiki Village (KV) is a community of affordable one- and two-bedroom unit rentals available for previously homeless families and kupuna (elderly). Amenities are included in the base rent, allowing residents to build their savings and practice budgeting. 

Beacon of Hope and the Houses and Village of Redemption (three sites total) are re-entry supportive housing options. Recently released prisoners can rent single-occupancy bedrooms while saving money and getting back on their feet. Beacon of Hope is available for female guests, while the Houses and Village of Redemption are for men. 

Bridge housing for kupuna is available on the upper level of our medical respite home in Kalihi Valley. Bridge housing kupuna residents may be formerly involved in the medical respite program, or may arrive there directly from shelter or the street.

With help from housing navigators, clients can apply and/or be referred to income-appropriate housing outside of our locations. Permanent housing is something every person and household should have the opportunity to enjoy. Over the next few months here on our blog, Instagram and Facebook, we’re going to spotlight different programs and services that are available to serve different stages of housing insecurity: currently homeless, immediately at-risk of homelessness, struggling to maintain long-term stable housing, and households somewhere in-between. Be sure to follow us to find out more about local service providers, State government programs and agencies working together to help end homelessness here in Hawaii.