Housing Agency outreach team helps homeless community

The Kaua‘i County Housing Agency, in partnership with Women in Need and Kaua‘i Economic Opportunity, visited various county beach parks and provided outreach services to homeless individuals and families currently living in these areas.

From Aug. 3-5, the outreach team visited ‘Anini Beach Park, Anahola Beach Park, Lydgate Beach Park, Salt Pond Beach Park, and Lucy Wright Park with the primary goal of connecting people with housing assistance programs, including identifying prospective tenants for Kealaula on Pua Loke – the county’s new permanent supportive housing project in Līhu‘e.

“I would like to thank our outreach team for their dedication to serving our community in need,” said Housing Director Adam Roversi. “There are resources available, and for some individuals it’s simply a matter of not knowing where to start or whom to go to for help. We hope to continue this program and expand our reach to others in need of housing resources around the island.”

The team also serviced individuals around the county’s Līhu‘e Civic Center. All officials wore masks and observed physical distancing as they serviced the public. Participants were also asked to wear a mask covering over their nose and mouth in an effort to prevent the potential spread of COVID-19.

The outreach team provided participants with refreshments, gloves, hand sanitizers, masks, and Clorox wipes. Community partners donated other items such as travel size shampoo, conditioner, body wash and body lotion from Malie Organics, reading glasses to eligible participants by Project Vision, and information on keiki programs from Kamehameha Schools.

Women in Need assisted participants in applying to the county Housing Agency’s Tenant-Based Rental Assistance (TBRA) and Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) programs. This week’s outreach yielded a total of 64 TBRA applications, which included an overall total of 113 individuals. Applicants for the TBRA program also applied for the HCV program.

The total number of applications per area serviced are as follows:

·‘Anini and Anahola beach parks – 17 households, totaling 32 individuals;
·Lydgate Beach Park – 33 households, totaling 50 individuals;
·Salt Pond Beach Park and Lucy Wright Park – 12 households, totaling 28 individuals; and
·County Līhu‘e Civic Center – two households, totaling three individuals.

For more information on the Kaua‘i County Housing Agency’s homeless outreach program, call 808-241-4427.