Homelessness is a growing issue in Hawaii, and the state has taken action to tackle it. The Coordinated State Initiative for Homelessness (CSIH) has launched a hotline to link homeless individuals with service providers across the state. This program is still in its early stages, but it has already made a positive impact on many people's lives. The hotline is managed by the CORE team, which consists of social outreach workers.
These workers go around neighborhoods to build connections with homeless people, collect personal information, and send it to the office so that they can follow up. Thanks to this program, one woman from Honolulu was able to move from the street into an apartment after seven years. Each client must work with a case manager and have a housing plan to make sure that the cause of their homelessness or at-risk situation is addressed and made sustainable. This helps to prevent further homelessness and ensures that people are able to stay in their homes.
The hotline also helps to free up emergency teams, who are often forced to help the homeless in Honolulu. This can divert resources away from more serious emergencies. The CORE team has also gone above and beyond by transporting a sick drifter from his tent in Ala Moana Beach Park to the hospital and promising to care for his dog Smiley until he could return. The Coordinated State Initiative for Homelessness is making a difference in Hawaii by connecting homeless people with service providers and helping them get back on their feet. The hotline is an essential part of this effort, and it is making a real difference in people's lives.
