HCAP WEEKLY October 16, 2023

HCAP Staff Conducts Community Outreach in Kapolei

Nā Lima Hana Employment Core Services staff and Kalaeloa District Service Center staff teamed up to provide outreach services to individuals experiencing homelessness in the Kapolei area. The HCAP team packed a bag of snacks and water to distribute. During the outreach, staff drove around the parks, buildings, and parking lots to meet individuals and give them more information regarding the services offered by HCAP. HCAP staff learned of an outreach program called Achieve Zero that visits the area every Tuesday to provide homeless verification and other services. HCAP staff plans to connect with Achieve Zero and partner with them for future outreach. 

Many individuals experiencing homelessness shared their stories with staff. Some individuals have fixed incomes, but housing is too expensive or rent has been raised too high for them to afford. One couple was relocated to Hawaiʻi from Alaska because of the cold weather, and are now waiting to return to their home in Los Angeles. Other individuals shared that they made the decision to remain without housing. All of the individuals shared that they had a high concern for the crime in the area including assault and theft. The HCAP team discussed future plans to continue outreach in Kapolei to assess the needs of the community, and see how HCAP can provide services.

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Windward District Service Center Client Joins HCAP Team

Amanda Bacoro is a single mother of three beautiful children living in Kāneʻohe who reached out to the Windward District Service Center in January for utility assistance. Amanda was previously an HCAP employee and was already familiar with the many different programs offered by the agency. Although she enjoyed working with HCAP, Amanda knew she needed to obtain a higher education to be able to provide for her children as a single mother. This led her to completing The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa’s social work program.  

In January of this year, while working with Windward District Manager Sonny Preston on her Emergency Crisis Intervention LIHEAP application, Amanda expressed her need for employment. Sonny immediately shared that HCAP’s Nā Lima Hana Employment Services Program had positions open for employment. In July, Amanda got hired as an Employment Placement Specialist with the Nā Lima Hana Program under program manager Cory Dias where she continues to flourish and reach professional milestones. “I am so blessed to have a job that I enjoy and to be part of HCAP again. I love the fact that I can build relationships and partnerships with people, inspire others, and be part of important change”.

HCAP looks forward to continuing to watch Amanda grow and wish her the best of luck.

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Health, Nutrition, and Hand Washing with Head Start

Nursing students from Hawaii Pacific University visited Head Start classrooms at Keiki Country and Ka Pua. The children learned about the importance of healthy eating, nutrition, and the benefits of proper hand washing. At Keiki Country, they completed an art activity that encouraged each child to create their own lunch bag that contained a variety of healthy foods. They also discussed how the body metabolizes different food groups. At Ka Pua, they completed a germ and hand washing experiment with the use of a glow gel, flashlights, and pepper water that revealed the absence or presence of germs after hand washing.

Click Here to learn more about Head Start & Early Head Start.