IHS Spring / Summer 2023 Print Newsletter

COMMUNITY

‘Imi Ola Piha: To Seek One's Fullest Life

For years, when someone was ready to begin addressing their addiction, medication assisted detox was simply beyond reach. ‘Imi Ola Piha provides a solution long needed: treatment on demand and the support to continue recovery after the initial detox phase.

‘Imi Ola Piha is a place of transformation, where homeless individuals who are motivated to change can do just that. Every individual who walks through our doors will be treated with respect and dignity, and provided a safe and comforting environment where medically-monitored substance use detox and/or psychiatric treatment will be initiated or reinstated. Shelter, meals, and a connection to long-term housing or continued treatment are

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also a part of the program. The communitybased facility is the first of its kind in the State. Many partners across public and private sectors came together to make this triage center possible. The City awarded federal Housing and Urban Development (HUD) funds for the initial acquisition and renovation of the former pet hospital. The State Legislature awarded a Grant-In-Aid to cover first-year operational costs. Bank of Hawaii and First Hawaiian Bank supported with private grants for us to furnish and secure the facility.

When the doors open, the Honolulu Police Department will make the first referrals to the ‘Imi Ola Piha during our pilot period. To learn more, visit ihshawaii.org/triage.

PROGRAM AND SERVICE UPDATES:

The new homeless triage center is yet another example of how we continue to adapt and develop services to better address the needs of Oahu’s homeless residents. Read on to see how our programs quickly respond and ignite their motivation when clients decide to change their lives.

OUTREACH

Our outreach teams provide distinct services to unsheltered individuals and families while working together to canvas areas and respond to community referrals.

‘Imi Ola Piha Homeless Triage Center is located adjacent to Kaaahi Women's and Family Shelter.

General Outreach addresses basic needs such as shelter, clothing or food, while retrieving vital documents to establish identification needed to secure jobs and housing. Our Psychiatric Street Medicine team specialists find ways to initiate behavioral health treatment for chronic mentally ill individuals who have lost decisional capacity. Their efforts include petitioning for guardianship or court ordered treatment, and initiating longacting medication. Throughout our outreach services, building trust and understanding the challenges of homelessness are key to encouraging people to accept help.

CASE MANAGEMENT

Case Managers coach and motivate clients in various stages of readiness for change.

The Homeless Intensive Case Management team specializes in helping homeless individuals who are often picked up by police for emergency mental health evaluations at the emergency department or are frequently arrested. Case managers interface regularly with Hawaii State Hospital, when clients are diverted, or the jail and courts when clients move through those systems. When stabilized, clients may transfer to longer-term case management services within IHS or with outside service providers.

EMERGENCY SHELTERS

Our emergency shelters provide a safe and welcoming environment for anyone in the community who finds themselves without a home. Some guests will stay only a night while others will stay for months while they work to

get back on their feet. Guests may seek shelter on their own, while others are referred by the friends, family, emergency departments or police. Twenty-four hours per day, seven days per week, these shelters provide safety and respite from the streets, along with tangible support and aloha.

SPECIALTY SHELTERS

Specialty shelters are designed for individuals who need a short-term shelter solution to help as they overcome a specialized concern. IHS pioneered the medical respite home for homeless individuals in Hawaii seven years ago and now operates five “Tutu Bert” Medical Respite Homes that provide safe and supportive environments for people to receive home care. The Kalihi-Uka Recovery Homes are for homeless individuals referred by the hospital who are enrolled in outpatient substance abuse programs but need a clean and sober environment to sleep, and practice what they are learning in treatment and recover.

VETERANS

Veterans in a housing crisis are served and recognized for their service in our VAsponsored Veterans Engaged in Transition House and our continuum of services. Veterans serve veterans, forming close bonds, ensuring that whenever a veteran is ready to talk, someone is ready to listen. Being there around the clock is important, “because breakthroughs don’t happen during business hours.”

HEALTH SERVICES

The Health Services team provides urgent care, complex wound care, stabilization for chronic medical conditions with medication management and referral. Their services grew during the pandemic when we partnered with Project Vision Hawaii for COVID-testing, vaccination, and surveillance. Now that Kalihi-

Palama Health Center has opened their new clinic in Iwilei, our health services team has shifted focus toward launching the ‘Imi Ola Piha Homeless Triage Center.

EMPLOYMENT SERVICES

Hele2Work Employment Services helped an average of seven people per week find new jobs this quarter – with 86 people returning to the workforce since January. For those not quite work-ready, the New Leaf pre-vocational training program prepares individuals with soft skills as well as core competency in building maintenance, janitorial, and/or landscaping. A new industry track will launch later this year with a focus on developing front- and back-ofthe-house restaurant skills.

MEALS

A small but mighty team of staff and an army of volunteers are responsible for preparing and serving nearly 900 meals every day out of the certified IHS Kitchen. These meals help people to know they are not alone or forgotten. Meals make connections easier, and offers of help more likely to be accepted.

HOUSING

So far this year, 117 families facing eviction received homeless prevention assistance; 20 homeless households were housed through our Rapid Rehousing program; and an additional 26 chronically homeless households with disabilities moved into their own residence with help from our Permanent Housing and Housing First programs. Homeless households often need a period of stabilization after ending their homelessness. So, support continues for at least six months after they are housed to ensure a good start. Some may continue to receive supportive services for a lifetime, and we are committed to serving them as long as is needed.

Meals create opportunities to build connections with homeless individuals.

It takes many hands and programs working together to help guests overcome their homeless crisis, from case management to health services.

This year so far in numbers

117 families facing evictions received Homeless Prevention Assistance

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR MESSAGE

Tailoring Services to Evolving Needs

A core part of our mission at IHS is to “create and offer tailored solutions for those in crisis”. This principle has become so relevant to what we are seeing on the streets and in the people and families coming into our shelters these days. In pursuit of fulfilling our mission over the years, we’ve expanded programs and become triage specialists for the homeless services system. Staff are constantly listening to understand each household’s situation and asking ourselves “what does this individual or family need to end their homelessness?” If the program doesn't already exist at IHS, we ask ourselves, "Does another agency have a program to meet their needs? If not, can we create the program ourselves?"

As a result, we now manage 14 service centers (including nine shelters) and eight core service lines designed to help people overcome the challenges that prevent them from finding their way into a home again. Our array of programs are constantly evolving and becoming a continuum of integrated services that meet unique needs. The work is intense and exhausting at times. But thanks to you, we are buoyed by outcomes that are often nothing short of miraculous. From a woman running into our shelter after being violently assaulted on the street, to a single pregnant mother who needs a safe place to recover from domestic violence that stripped her of a home of many years, to the veteran living his final moments with staff by his side, holding his hand as he transitions from this life into the next, we are gifting hope and guarding the dignity of lives we encounter. Mahalo for making healing and recovery possible with your prayers and support. Imua!

We’re Hiring! Join

There is no feeling more rewarding than seeing an individual or family gain stability in shelter, employment, or housing. Our incredible staff help make miracles possible every day.

We have full- and part-time job openings at our emergency and specialty shelters, and programs.

Connie Mitchell Executive Director

86 clients employed with the help of Hele2Work Employment Services

650 individuals stayed at IHS Emergency Shelters

860 average meals per day prepared by IHS’ Kitchen

Opportunities include nursing, other frontline positions (working directly with clients/guests), and administrative roles.

If you’re interested in joining our team, visit our website at ihshawaii.org/careers or scan the QR code:

Thanks to you, we are buoyed by outcomes that are often nothing short of miraculous.

IHS Psychiatric Street Medicine team specializes in caring for chronic mentally ill homeless individuals.

‘Imi Ola Piha: To Seek One's Fullest Life

According to the 2022 Point in Time count of Oahu’s unsheltered, 54% were chronically homeless. Over 40% struggled with mental illness, and 33% selfreported a substance use disorder. While many denied substance abuse, outreach observations indicate that numbers are much higher than is reported.

On March 1st, we welcomed community leaders and friends to unveil ‘Imi Ola Piha, IHS’ new Homeless Triage Center, the latest addition to our line-up of services. Its name extends a warm invitation to

homeless individuals to begin the journey of “seeking their fullest life”. For years, when someone was ready to begin addressing their addiction, medication assisted detox was simply beyond reach.

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Sandra, a community-care case management client, celebrating her homecoming.