A Friendly Place
A One-Stop Service Center for the Homeless Opens in Kona

The following article is a brief introduction to the newly-opened one-stop service center for the homeless in Kailua-Kona, called A Friendly Place. The information came courtesy of the Office for Social Ministry, which administers the center.

Tucked into an unobtrusive corner of the Old Industrial Area is a brand-new center dedicated to providing much-needed services to Kailua-Kona’s homeless population. Its name, A Friendly Place, indicates the tone and atmosphere that its staff projects to the 40-50 homeless people who come to seek their help every weekday.

How did this center come into being?

Since the early 1990s, the need for a West Hawai`i homeless shelter has been compounded by an increase in transients and a scarcity of affordable housing.

The scourge of homelessness is a growing concern on our island, and the drive to help alleviate it was shared by vast sectors of our community, both private and public. The community joined hands with government agencies to help make A Friendly Place happen, to give the homeless a drop-in center offering comprehensive homeless services in a single location.

Who are the partners to help make A Friendly Place a reality?

The County of Hawai`i has worked with homeless service providers, business owners and developers to address the problems of homelessness on our island. This group, the Community Alliance Partners meets quarterly to discuss issues which have an impact on the island’s homeless population. This group together seeks to find solutions and funding opportunities.

In Kona, the County of Hawai`i donated the approximately one acre of land on Pawai Place in what was a Department of Water Supply baseyard to supply the site for A Friendly Place. Stanford Carr Development, Inc. generously donated a three-bedroom model home to serve as the drop-in center, along with labor and supplies.

The Office for Social Ministry staffs A Friendly Place with eight workers from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday.

What services does the center offer?

Showers, laundry, lockers, mail pickup, counseling and referrals are among the services that A Friendly Place offers. A telephone is available for brief calls, and Internet access is also available to aid individuals in seeking jobs or educational opportunities. There is also a kitchen for people to use – and clean up afterwards.

The homeless people who visit the center for help are referred to respectfully as consumers.

The Office for Social Ministry’s West Hawai`i coordinator, Josephine Ibarra, said that first-time consumers meet with a staff member to “talk story” so the staff can get an idea of the individual’s needs. Many of the consumers at the center have medical, mental or emotional problems, and the staff works to counsel or refer the individuals to specialists for help.

“We work to build trust and rapport with our consumers,” Ibarra said. “ When you can build that relationship with the consumer, you can better address their needs.”

“One thing they all have in common: under the stars is their home.”

Where does the funding come from?

The Hawaii Island United Way and state grants provide the lion’s share of the funding, along with private donations.

Accessibility was a key factor in its location

“It’s not very high-profile in terms of location, but it’s a good accessible location for our consumers,” Ibarra said.

Ibarra said that it was really helpful that the center is located on County property tucked away from the main thoroughfare of traffic.

The “Not in My Backyard” syndrome, where neighbors object to such facilities, has been largely assuaged thanks to the staff’s continued efforts to communicate with the neighbors, most of whom are businesses.

Ibarra said that she was grateful to the community for their compassion and support, as evidenced by many local churches and community groups that pitch in to help with meal service and other chores.

On a recent Monday, parishioners from nearby Mokuaikaua Church were on hand to serve a hot lunch to the center’s consumers, who ate at picnic benches and under the trees on the property.

Meal service is a key element in showing compassion

Feeding the hungry is a way of showing compassion to one’s fellow man. Every morning, Monday through Friday, A Friendly Place offers breakfast to consumers from 7 to 8 a.m., except on Thursdays, from 8 to 9 a.m. when Family Support Services partners with the center’s Office for Social Ministry staff.

On Mondays, as mentioned above, Mokuaikaua Church congregants sponsor lunch, and on Tuesday, St. Michael’s Church sponsors lunch.

Medical needs of the homeless taken care of

Once a week, a nurse visits the center to provide care, and to educate consumers on how to prevent health problems.

Staph infections, which are highly contagious, are a common problem. Ibarra said that when a consumer is found to have a staph infection, immediate medical attention is offered. If the infection is worsening, staff may drive the consumer to the West Hawaii Community Health Clinic for a speedy checkup.

“The West Hawaii Community Health Clinic has been a godsend,” Ibarra said. “They are always ready to help and they’re really compassionate.” The clinic has helped the center avoid sending less-urgent patients to the Kona Community Hospital’s busy Emergency Room, which is about 12 miles away and whose services are costly.

What other referrals does the center offer?

Besides the medical referrals, the center offers referrals for medical insurance, food stamp programs, substance abuse programs, and adult mental health programs.

Adult mental health clinics are held once a month with Dr. Michael McGrath and Barbara Saiki, APRN.

On the wall at the center’s main room is a bank of brochures offering information on job placement, education and other means of breaking the cycle of homelessness.

“Homelessness can come from many things – we see people who were in construction who got hurt and who suddenly couldn’t work and then were unable to pay the rent,” Ibarra said, giving an example. “These people may find themselves in the street or whole families living out of their cars.”

“There are many causes of homelessness,” Ibarra said. Lack of affordable housing is a key reason, she noted.

Many people are only a few paychecks away from becoming homeless. Loss of employment, high rent, minimum wage jobs, domestic violence, substance abuse, emotional or mental health problems and physical health problems all can lead to homelessness.

The homeless person has many faces: seniors, youth and children, families and individuals may find themselves without a home.

Dignity is key

Each of the consumers at A Friendly Place is viewed as an individual, each of whom is treated with respect and dignity. Staffers are trained to deal with a vast array of situations and conditions that may present themselves in the course of the day. Ibarra herself has worked for the Office for Social Ministry for six years, and considers herself an advocate for her consumers.

A Friendly Place is a place for all

“We really welcome members of the community to come and see what they can do to help,” Ibarra said. “It’s really good for our more fortunate folks to become even more a part of the community by giving back.”

The future – an overnight shelter for Kona’s homeless

One of the next major hurdles for the Community Alliance Partners and the County of Hawai`i is to add an overnight shelter to the homeless relief program in West Hawai`i. Currently there is no emergency shelter for homeless persons in the Kona area.

Why is building a shelter difficult?

According to the Office for Social Ministry, lack of understanding and awareness is the biggest obstacle. The surrounding community needs to be communicated with and informed of the homeless relief program and its benefit to the community at large.

Success will lie in partnering with all community stakeholders: residents, businesses, homeless service and treatment providers, public safety and government agencies. Compassion and communication are the keys to success in this effort.

For more information about A Friendly Place and how you can help volunteer with current services, please call OSM at 935-3050, ext. 141.