T H E W O R T H Y PAT H
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THE INSTITUTE FOR HUMAN SERVICES
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FA L L / W I N T E R 2 0 2 3
COMMUNITY
Meeting Foundational Needs, Inviting Transformation
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O
ur clients often have multiple obstacles that need to be addressed in order for them to sustain housing once placed, such as, chronic hypertension and diabetes, complex wound care, renal dialysis, schizophrenia, dementia, alcoholism, and drug addiction. Moreover, our Meal Program continues to serve over 900 meals a day, preparing meals for guests at IHS emergency and specialty shelters, and at the City and County mobile Homeless Outreach and Navigation for Unsheltered Persons. In addition to the foundational needs of meals and shelter, central to IHS is attention to mental health. Nearly 50% of guests entering our shelters self-report having a mental illness. The percentage is even higher for individuals engaging with our outreach and
case management programs. Hence our heavy commitment to advocate for systems change on behalf of those we serve. Extending a listening ear, encouraging hope, and offering solutions take time–whether that be responding to an email asking for housing assistance, sharing a hygiene kit with someone at Ala Moana Beach Park, or helping reunite family members with loved ones. These interventions also can take a toll on our staff when we are under a constant barrage of cries for help. Ending homelessness requires all of us to do our part; many hands make lighter work. Please continue to offer your support and prayers, volunteering your talents; sharing financial resources, and helping in other ways as you are able.
ENGAGING WITH OUR COMMUNITY: The path into homelessness is unique to each household, and the way out requires a tailored solution. A mental health crisis precipitated by substance addiction, physical injury or life threatening illness, loss of employment because of disabilities, fractured relationships, family dysfunction; they all can contribute to finding oneself with nowhere safe to lay your head at night. In this issue, we are highlighting ways our community is joining together to provide specialized services for individuals on their journey back to stable, permanent housing.