With one of the highest rates of homeless people in the nation, it is easy for Hawaii’s policymakers and residents to forget these people are not a faceless group of strangers, but individuals and families who have found themselves in unfortunate circumstances.
According to the annual Point In Time Count in January, nearly half of the 6,918 people considered homeless were part of families. Some families are in shock — almost half have never been homeless before and most never thought it would happen to them. Even more distressing, in the Aloha State, the Homeless Service Utilization Report states that 25 percent of those accessing homeless services in Hawaii are children.
Over the next few years, funding for homeless services from federal and state governments will significantly change to a focus on getting people into permanent housing as quickly as possible. This strategic shift in focus is based on overwhelming evidence that shows housing people first and then providing services results in higher housing retention rates, lower recidivism and significant reduction in the use of homeless and crisis services.
Additionally, long-term housing is vital to providing children stability they need to develop their full potential. "Housing First" challenges many local service providers who now need to provide support services to individuals and families after they are placed in housing.
To help strengthen nonprofit organizations serving this population, the Hawaii Community Foundation (HCF) has launched Housing ASAP, a network for family shelter service providers in Hawaii. In alignment with federal, state and county priorities, Housing ASAP will work with nonprofit organizations serving homeless families across the state to coordinate and share information with each other to better serve the needs of families and move them more quickly into stable housing.
Thirteen funders make up the Housing ASAP partnership: Aloha United Way, American Savings Bank, Atherton Family Foundation, Bank of Hawaii Foundation, Central Pacific Bank Foundation, Cooke Foundation, Ltd., Harold K.L. Castle Foundation, Kresge Foundation, McInerny Foundation, Hawaii Community Foundation-Community Housing Fund, Kosasa Family Fund, Omidyar ‘Ohana Fund and the Stupski Family Fund.
At HCF we have seen, firsthand, that when individuals and organizations are brought together as a network, their learning and effectiveness accelerates. Over the course of the 2½-year, $4 million program, Housing ASAP aims to significantly improve these key measures:
» Increase the number of families placed in permanent housing.
» Reduce the amount of time required to place families in permanent housing.
» Increase the number of families who remain housed over a long-term period.
The individuals and families who sleep outside without shelter each night in Hawaii are people with names and stories and hopes. They will need dedicated, results-driven organizations in our community to help them find help with housing and employment, case management and health care in order to successfully transition out of homelessness.
These organizations need and deserve our support. Through the Housing ASAP program and funder collaborative, participating organizations will receive capacity building resources, networking opportunities and financial support to develop stronger organizations with forward-thinking leadership to make a big difference for homeless families — and for all of us who care about them.
