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HILO, Hawaii (KHON2) — Hope Services Hawaiʻi, Neighborhood Place of Puna and The Salvation Army are working together to bring solutions to the people by opening a new youth outreach center in downtown Hilo.
“The Anchor Point Youth Center offers youth who are experiencing homelessness a safe place where they can access resources, connect with opportunities, and — most importantly — find the hope and help they need to find housing and a better life,” said Paul Normann, Executive Director of Neighborhood Place of Puna.
The new Anchor Point Youth Center is meant to support youth who are unsheltered.
“The Salvation Army will refer our young adults that need housing to the apartments above the youth center,” said Roxanne Costa, Hawaii County Social Services Director at The Salvation Army.
“As a youth, I needed support but didn’t know where to start,” said Minnie Cain, Neighborhood Place of Punaʻs program coordinator for Anchor Point Youth Center.
This new center is set to provide housing, essential services and a safe place for young people who are aged 18-24 and are either overcoming houselessness or are at risk of becoming unsheltered.
Key highlights:
- Location and structure:
- The Youth Outreach Center is located on Kinoʻole Street in Hilo, across from the Hilo Central Fire Station.
- The building has 22 residential units on the upper floor for affordable housing and commercial spaces on the ground floor.
- Affordable housing:
- The residential units will provide affordable housing for youth between the ages of 18-24 who are struggling with homelessness.
- Move-ins for these long-term housing units are planned for mid-March.
- Anchor Point Youth Center:
- The Anchor Point Youth Center, operated by Neighborhood Place of Puna, will provide a safe space for at-risk youth to access important resources and find support.
- The center will offer Wi-Fi, computer access, help with applications and safe storage for important documents along with workshops and activities.
- The center is scheduled to open on March 3.
- Community and support:
- The Salvation Army will help refer youth to the housing units and provide additional support like life skills training, case management and financial literacy programs.
- The Homeless Engagement Team, also operated by Neighborhood Place of Puna, works to support individuals and families experiencing homelessness in Hawaiʻi County.
- Partnership and funding:
- This project is funded through a partnership with various organizations, including the County of Hawaiʻi Office of Housing & Community Development and the Hawaiʻi State Governor’s Office of Homelessness & Housing Solutions.
- How you can help:
- There are opportunities for the community to contribute by volunteering, donating or sponsoring a unit at the center.
- Donations can be made online through Hope Services Hawaiʻi or Neighborhood Place of Puna.
- Aims and impact:
- This new center provide both housing and essential services youth need to get back on their feet. It offers them a chance to heal, grow and build a better future.
- The goal is to make homelessness less common, short-term and prevent it from happening again.
“Many youth are still living in survival mode, just as I did, and I’m committed to ensuring they receive the guidance and resources that can help them take control of their lives,” Cain said.
The new Youth Outreach Center in Hilo is a major step forward in helping youth overcome houselessness and offering both housing and vital support services to give youth the tools to rebuild their lives.
You can click here to learn more about Hope Services. You can click here to learn more about Neighborhood Place Puna.
“Our teams have been hard at work getting the space ready, and now we invite our community to help our youth thrive in this space,” concluded Costa. “You can help change the course of a young person’s life. Please consider sponsoring a unit, creating a garden, or volunteering to help with maintenance.”