HCAP Weekly April 13, 2020

Kumuhonua Resident Obtains Permanent Housing
Kumuhonua Seeks Donation of Supplies for COVID-19 Pandemic
HCAP District Service Centers Serve Clients Remotely
HCAP Head Start Family Advocates Meet Up Via Video Conferencing to Discuss Ways to Help Communities in Need

Kumuhonua Resident Obtains Permanent Housing

Mae was living at her parents’ home when her siblings put the property up for sale. She had nowhere to go and stayed at an emergency shelter at the Institute for Human Services (IHS). Mae stayed at the IHS shelter for seven months before moving into an apartment with roommates. Unfortunately, her roommates broke their rental lease agreement and left her with all the bills. Unable to afford rent, Mae found herself returning back to IHS again.

During her stay at IHS, she was referred to the Kumuhonua Transitional Living Center and moved in April 2016. At Kumuhonua, Mae attended house meetings and fulfilled all of her case manager appointments. With the help of her case manager, she was able to obtain Social Security and save money. Kumuhonua staff also helped her in her permanent housing search.

With debt and an eviction as a part of her record, Mae found the housing search to be particularly difficult. But through it all, Mae persevered. With assistance from HCAP’s Rapid Re-housing Program, Mae was able to obtain permanent subsidized housing at The Villas of Malu`ohai in March 2020. She would like to give a big mahalo to Kumuhonua staff for all their hard work and patience.

Kumuhonua Seeks Donation of Supplies for COVID-19 Pandemic

HCAP’s Kumuhonua Transitional Living Center remains open through the statewide COVID-19 shelter-in-place order. We continue to provide housing and services for Kumuhonua residents, striving to maintain the safest environment possible for this vulnerable population.

In order to keep the facility clean and to protect both residents and staff, Kumuhonua is seeking donations from friends, partners, and supporters. Some of the items most in need are as follows: gloves, masks, Clorox Disinfecting Wipes, Lysol Disinfectant Sprays, Clorox Disinfectant Sprays, spray bottles, and hand sanitizers.

If you are able to donate needed supplies to Kumuhonua, please contact us at alafaum@hcapweb.org to discuss donation details and arrange for pick up or delivery. We truly appreciate your support, especially during these challenging times. Stay safe and take care.

HCAP District Service Centers Serve Clients Remotely

In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, HCAP’s District Service Centers have had to close their offices to the public due to safety precautions. Nevertheless, Windward District Service Center, like the other District Service Centers, has continued to deliver programs and services remotely.

Using social media and email on a regular basis, Windward District Service Center staff have been posting updates and letting the public know about upcoming Hawaii Foodbank distributions, Grab and Go meals for adults and children, and other community programs that could help them during these tough times.

They are also working in collaboration with other community organizations, including Hawaii DOE, KEY Project, and Hau`ula Civic Center. Staff have also been working to ensure that essential services are provided for to the kupuna and keiki in the Windward area.

Staff at Windward District Service Center would like the Windward community to know that in these difficult times, HCAP will still be here to serve the community. But they do ask that everyone do their part in flattening the curve by staying at home and practicing social distancing.

HCAP Head Start Family Advocates Meet Up Via Video Conferencing to Discuss Ways to Help Communities in Need

HCAP Head Start Family Advocates met via Zoom with their Program Manager on Friday, April 3rd. The team started with an ice breaker on what their morning routine consists of, followed by sharing program and component updates. Everyone then took turns sharing resources with one another that could help other families in their service areas.

The Family Advocates also shared how they have been communicating with families that speak a second language to help support their colleagues with similar situations. Program Manager Melissa Grado shared that she has never seen her staff so enthusiastic to attend a meeting before. “They were so excited to see each other. Having to work remotely has given them a new sense of appreciation for the work they do and for each other as peers.”