The County of Kaua‘i’s Housing Agency announced the recipients of its 2026 Homeless Program Grants.
Of the 12 proposals received, 10 were eligible for consideration. A selection committee reviewed and scored all the eligible projects and selected the top five proposals to fund for a total of $500,000, according to a news release from Kaua‘i County.
See the proposals selected below:
- Family Life Center, Homeless Street Outreach was awarded its requested amount of $90,000. Family Life Center is the county’s only street outreach provider and directly connected to the Homeless Management Information System. This funding increases their capacity to serve unhoused individuals by funding an outreach position and a quarter of an administrative support position, allowing outreach workers to focus on their outreach duties.
- Family Life Center, Elima Rapid Rehousing was awarded its requested amount of $85,000. Most of the funding goes directly to supporting the housing of chronically homeless individuals with security deposits and rental assistance. The remainder of the funds will staff half of a case manager position and training for that position. This is the only funding available to house homeless singles, as most current funding focuses on families, women, and children.
- Family Life Center, Ho’olanani Shelter was awarded its requested amount of $70,000. This award provides critical operating funds for their Kaua‘i Shelter that houses larger families who have difficulty finding private rentals. Last year’s funding supported large families with children with special needs who were particularly vulnerable on the streets. Most of the funding supports utilities, maintenance, and shelter supplies. The remainder of the funding provides for a quarter of a Program Assistant’s salary.
- Project Vision Hawai‘i, Pulama Ola Kaua‘i requested $270,000. After submitting a revised budget, $171,163.85 awarded. Project Visions’ funding request is primarily for salaries associated with a new Medical Respite facility opening in April 2026 and their already established outreach positions. They recently obtained a long-term lease (15 years) to operate a five-unit Medical Respite facility, with an additional 13 affordable units for the unhoused coming online at a later date. Medical respite is a huge need here on Kaua‘i, as there are many unhoused who are not sick enough to remain in the hospital, yet they are released to recover from various medical conditions and or surgeries in unsanitary conditions. Eventually, this project will be sustainable through Medicaid and Hospital contracts and funding.
- Hale Opio, Ho’omalamamalama Housing Pathways, requested $166,750. After submitting a revised budget, $83,836.15 awarded. This is a new program, with all funding going toward the outreach position to provide housing navigation support and case management for unhoused youth ages 12 through young adulthood (26). This population faces additional barriers, including difficulty navigating complex systems. This new position will be fully dedicated to serving those youth who are justice-involved, aging out of foster care, or otherwise vulnerable.
