HONOLULU (AP) — A new shelter in Sand Island that will offer housing and additional services for the homeless is set to open its doors.
Hale Mauliola, a housing navigation service center, will open Thursday, KHON-TV reported (http://bit.ly/1PBjx5F). The facility is made up of shipping container housing units and can house up to 90 people. Six people will move in on opening day.
“We want to basically set them up so that they are housing ready and by allowing all of the services that are on site, which includes employment, health care, housing, it includes case management and access to benefits, they can access all that on site while they’re working full-time and doing what they’re doing,” said Kimo Carvalho, director of community relations with the Institute for Human Services.
IHS’ Connie Mitchell said the goal is to get residents prepared for the transition into permanent housing.
“We’re really about welcoming people who are motivated and really ready to work toward getting into housing, so we’re going to be connecting them up to all of our housing resources, making sure that they’re really focused on doing the things they need to do to get out of here in 60 days,” Mitchell said.
According to IHS, the shelter has fewer barriers to entry than other shelters. Couples will be able to room together and there will not be a curfew.
The agency is also working with the Humane Society to allow residents to bring their pets.