Homeless Alliance Settles In Kaneohe
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A grass-roots homeless service agency has found a home for itself in Kaneohe, and the welcome mat is open for those who need help finding shelter and self-help skills.
The nonprofit Affordable Housing and Homeless Alliance consolidated its headquarters and Kailua Resource Center this month in a 4,700-square foot warehouse at 46-217 Kahuhipa St. next to City Mill. The move to the former T-shirt factory follows a rent hike at its Kalihi office, which set off a search for this “diamond in the rough” on the Windward side.
“We are fully operational, while we continue to make the warehouse more usable for our services,“said executive director Doran Porter - a Kaneohe resident along with a few of his staff. “We do not provide services out of the warehouse as it is used for storage of our supplies and donations, which are then taken to our service locations.”
Resources are offered at Windward United Church of Christ (10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Wednesdays), Hawaii Center for Independent Living by Hauula Shopping Center (10 a.m. to 1 p.m.Fridays),Waimanalo Health Center (1 to 3 p.m. Tuesdays) and at two North Shore centers. For details, call 845-4565.
Help comes in the form of free training,job referrals,mail services,emergency food pantry, clothing, hygiene supplies and phones for Oahu’s growing homeless population. In 2010, Porter said the agency served about 7,000 clients, averaging 100 visits per day.
Supported by grants and donations, AHHA inches closer to its goal of being a one-stop resource center for the homeless or those at-risk of losing their homes.
At a Dec. 20 open house in Kaneohe,AHHA introduced resource partners and largely volunteer staff to the community.Most of its 21 employees are Americorps volunteers.
Help is always needed “in time and money,” added Porter, a former Methodist pastor who has made service to others a lifelong career.
“I find that I am most satisfied when my work has meaning, and I can think of nothing more rewarding than helping others to have a home of their own.”
For example, one couple without work or housing and heavily in debt is now back in college after working with AHHA staff to get grants and suitable classes at Windward Community College.Just as important,AHHA linked them up with rental assistance after they’d been living on Kailua beach.
Another client and veteran of many Windward beaches was recently hired by AHHA to work helping others find housing, jobs and benefits.
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