The Institute for Human Services has $130,000 in federal funds to distribute in the next three months to keep people such as Deja-Rae Guthier and her two daughters from becoming homeless.

Guthier, 22, her boyfriend and their two daughters — ages 4 and 2 — had lived in a Leeward Coast homeless shelter for two years and 10 months until March 16, when a commitment of $1,195 from IHS allowed them to rent a two-bedroom, one-bathroom apartment of their own in Makaha.

Until they were referred to IHS’ Rapid Rehousing and Homeless Prevention program, Guthier did not know that Hawaii’s largest emergency homeless shelter also has been providing one-time funds to prevent working families from becoming homeless.

“I had no idea,” Guthier said. “But it feels better to be in a bigger place.”

In the fiscal year that ended June 30, IHS distributed $408,475 in federal Housing and Urban Development money to 215 Oahu households representing 632 people, said IHS Executive Director Connie Mitchell.

The money is aimed at working families to give them a one-time contribution to help with utilities, security deposits, overdue or first month’s rent, Mitchell said.

“It’s meant for people who were affected by the economy and got behind in their rent a couple of months or just needed to get out of their current living situation,” Mitchell said.

Last year, IHS provided money to help 22 to 25 families each month. They received as little as $300 for utilities deposits to $3,000 for rent or security deposits, said Minda Golez, IHS’ director of housing and employment;

The program has been so successful that IHS now has another $130,000 to distribute by June 30, Mitchell said.

“We ended up getting a little bit more money, but we need to spend it by June 30,” she said.

Eligible candidates are subject to income limits. For instance, a family of four cannot earn more than $49,500.

They will have to provide proof of employment, such as pay stubs, apartment lease information and identification, Golez said.

Those who qualify will receive assistance from IHS case managers who will enroll them in financial management classes and credit counseling services, Golez said.

“It’s aimed at renters, and they will need to show some type of sustainability,” Golez said. “With this help, hopefully they can move forward.”

The HUD funding originally was part of the federal stimulus and helped steer IHS into a new direction of preventing families from having to enter homeless shelters, Mitchell said.

“The money is really meant to help prevent homelessness,” she said. “This is a new group of people IHS is serving, other than the traditionally homeless. It’s been great to help people who don’t normally access these types of services.”

Guthier and her family had been living with relatives until the family dynamics deteriorated and they had to move into a homeless shelter.

Guthier and her boyfriend now have jobs to keep up with their new monthly rent of $1,195.

She also is studying for her high school equivalency degree four nights a week while raising their two daughters — on top of the financial planning classes they will have to attend for receiving the IHS funds.

Guthier appreciates the IHS help that got them into their first permanent home in years.

“The kids are real excited,” Guthier said. “It feels good. It feels real good.”