By Anna Weaver Hawaii Catholic Herald Aunty Carmen’s Kitchen at St. Augustine by-the-Sea Parish in Waikiki has been giving out free hot meals on weekdays to the hungry for going on 50 years. But after pressure from Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi’s office, St. Augustine’s pastor is temporarily stopping the program, which serves about 50 people […]
Volunteers help 20 homeless locals move into shelters
Hawaii Catholic Herald KAILUA-KONA — Twenty longtime Hawaii residents moved into HOPE Services shelters last month, receiving a reprieve from life without a roof, running water or safety. The residents had pitched 11 tents outside the Kona Community Aquatic Center. They told outreach workers they had previously taken refuge in the bushes at the Old […]
Commentary: Landlords needed — Help house our community
This article represents a joint message from the diocesan Office for Social Ministry, HOPE Services Hawaii, Catholic Charities Hawaii and the Hawaii Catholic Conference, working with the Office of the Governor’s Coordinator on Homelessness. “At some point in life, we all need help,” said Jon Lam, an Oahu landlord. For many people in Hawaii, housing […]
Housing vouchers a win-win for local landlords
This article represents a joint message from the diocesan Office for Social Ministry, HOPE Services Hawaii, Catholic Charities Hawaii and the Hawaii Catholic Conference, working with the Office of the Governor’s Coordinator on Homelessness. While homelessness often seems an intractable problem, Hawaii has an opportunity to significantly reduce homelessness due to unprecedented levels of housing […]
A decade inspiring hope
Diocese-affiliated Big Island nonprofit marks 10 years fighting homelessness By Anna Weaver Hawaii Catholic Herald To see the impact of HOPE Services Hawaii, you can count the number of micro-housing units it helped set up and now operates across Hawaii island. You can also browse the long list of programs it runs and the partner […]
HOPE Services micro-shelters open doors for Kona homeless
Diocese of Honolulu Big Island social ministry affiliate, HOPE Services Hawaii, on July 1 welcomed 15 residents who have become homeless during the coronavirus epidemic into a new village of micro-shelters at the Old Kona Airport Park. The village, called Ka Lamaku, is a joint project of the County of Hawaii and HOPE Services, which […]
Catholic Charities blesses new Maui housing for low-income elderly
By Patrick Downes Hawaii Catholic Herald Msgr. Terrence Watanabe, vicar forane for Maui County and pastor of St. Theresa Parish in Kihei, did a double “house” blessing in Kahului, Maui, June 25 — one for a new Catholic Charities Hawaii affordable apartment building for the elderly, the other for the bare ground site of its […]
Grants allow HOPE Services to give rent, utility help for those hit by COVID-19
Two grants will allow the Catholic diocese-affiliate HOPE Services Hawaii and two other Big Island non-profit organizations to give one-time emergency financial assistance to Hawaii Island residents who have been laid off or whose income has been reduced because of the coronavirus pandemic. Hawaii Community Foundation has provided $100,000 and Hawaii Island United Way’s Rent […]
HOPE Services arranges hotel for homeless during pandemic
Sheltering-in-place doesn’t mean much when you don’t have a place to shelter. That’s why HOPE Services Hawaii is coordinating a place for homeless elderly and medically at-risk homeless to stay during the COVID-19 pandemic. Starting on April 9, the non-profit affiliate of the Diocese of Honolulu’s Office for Social Ministry began moving homeless kupuna into […]
‘Where did you sleep on Jan. 26?’
Catholic Church-affiliate HOPE Services conducts Hawaii island Homeless Point in Time Count HOPE Services Hawaii, the Catholic Church-affiliated leader in the battle against homelessness on the Big Island, last week facilitated the annual Homeless Point in Time Count on that island. The count, an annual census of people experiencing homelessness on a given night, had […]
