IHS AND MAYOR KIRK CALDWELL HOSTS GRAND OPENING AND BLESSING OF HALE MAULIOLA HOUSING NAVIGATION SERVICE CENTER

News Release from IHS June 27, 2016

HONOLULU – IHS and Mayor Kirk Caldwell celebrated the accomplishments achieved at Hale Mauliola, Hawaii’s first housing navigation service center, at today’s blessing and grand opening event. The day was celebrated by over 100 people who contributed to the facility’s success, including neighboring businesses, organizations, volunteers, donors, developers, contractors, government officials and homeless service provider representatives.

After winning the bid to operate Hale Mauliola under contract with the Honolulu City Administration, IHS opened its doors to its first set of residents on November 16, 2015. The facility has since served 173 individuals, 61 of which have successfully transitioned into stable housing situations with an average length of stay of 50 days.  Of the 173 individuals served, 14 were pet owners and 58 were couples. Twelve had been living in cars prior to entry and responded to outreach as part of a recent campaign focused on homeless living in cars.

IHS Executive Director, Connie Mitchell expressed her gratitude to the community for making this effort a success. Mitchell stated “with the help of our community, we’ve developed a facility that is, in my opinion, a game changer for homeless services and shelter in Hawaii. Hale Mauliola signifies a movement forward in adapting our operations to the voiced needs of homeless people themselves. It is being operated by personnel with cross training in shelter operations, social service delivery, and facility management.  Hale Mauliola represents true innovation in homeless services and is a model others far and near might appreciate.”

“Many hands worked together to make Hawaii’s first housing navigation center a success,” said Mayor Caldwell.  “Hale Mauliola resulted from breaking down barriers between city departments, city and state government, and the public, private, and nonprofit sectors.  Over the last two years alone, the city’s partnership with IHS has produced innovative, effective approaches to address homelessness on Oahu, including Housing First, the Community Assistance Program, and Hale Mauliola.  We will continue to work collaboratively and push ahead to provide housing options for every member of our community.”

Since its media update in February, 2016, Hale Mauliola provided new amenities to its residents, including mini solar panels for individual room lighting and electronics, redesigned custom lockers for additional safety and room storage, WIFI internet, a landscaped setting, a shuttle into town and additional electricity connected to a new communal area known as the Central Hale where residents congregate to socialize and connect with other residents.

Mayor Caldwell’s City Administration awarded IHS the $850,000 contract to operate Hale Mauliola for one year, ending November 2016 and is renewable. With an 81-bed capacity, IHS has operated at functional capacity these past three-weeks and was projected to host at minimum 130-individuals in one year.  They have already exceeded this goal by 32% a little more than seven months into the project.

Residents of Hale Mauliola are provided with a full array of homeless services including housing placement assistance, employment support services, case management, pet screenings and resources, access to specialized behavioral and health services. Facility amenities include a barbeque area, picnics tables for outdoor recreation, phone and mail service, daily meals, 63 privately locked units (39 individual units, 4 ADA units and 19 two-person units), fresh towels, toiletries and bed linens, free parking, clean showers and bathroom facilities, bike racks and 24/7 security.

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About IHS, The Institute for Human Services, Inc.: IHS, The Institute for Human Services, Inc., a 501 (c)(3) private non-profit organization, is Hawaii’s oldest, largest and most comprehensive human services agency exclusively focused on ending and preventing homelessness on Oahu. Services include emergency shelter, daily meal programs, housing, employment, healthcare, case management, children’s enrichment, and homeless outreach. IHS is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF). For more information visit: www.ihshawaii.org