Every year on October 10, people around the world observe World Homeless Day, a time to raise awareness, celebrate progress, and recommit to the shared goal of ending homelessness.
Here on Hawaiʻi Island, for many local families and individuals, housing instability is a real issue. It’s something that affects neighbors, classmates, and even loved ones. Rising housing costs, limited rental availability, and the high cost of living make it challenging for many to stay housed or find safe shelter when times get tough.
At Neighborhood Place of Puna (NPP), we’re here to help turn struggle into stability.
Meeting Families Where They Are
Every day, NPP works to ensure that every child, every family, and every individual has a safe place to call home. Through a range of housing and family support programs, we walk alongside families, youth, and individuals to connect them with the tools and resources they need to secure a stable home.
Our programs are designed to meet people where they are, whether that’s in a time of crisis, transition, or rebuilding.
- Hale ʻIki Family Assessment Center provides Puna’s only temporary emergency shelter for families, offering not just a roof, but support to help them move toward permanent housing.
- Anchor Point Youth Center in Hilo welcomes youth and young adults ages 14–24 who are experiencing homelessness or housing instability. This drop-in center provides access to Wi-Fi, basic needs, and caring staff who help with applications, housing navigation, and nurturing a sense of belonging.
- The Homeless Engagement Team conducts direct outreach across Hawaiʻi Island, bringing compassion and resources to unsheltered individuals wherever they are.
- Through the Emergency Rent Assistance Program (ERAP), NPP has distributed nearly $3.7 million in rent support over the past two years, helping families stay in their homes and avoid the trauma of eviction.
Together, our housing programs have served more than 150 unsheltered families and individuals in just the last two years — helping them find not only housing but hope.
Connecting the Dots: Coordination & Family Support
Housing translates to stability, connection, and opportunity. That’s why NPP’s Coordination Center and Family Resource Center play such an essential role.
The Coordination Center offers free navigation by phone, text, or walk-in, linking Hawaiʻi County residents to community resources, financial assistance, and housing help. In the past two years, the center has handled over 5,400 requests and made nearly 11,600 referrals to services that strengthen families and keep them secure.
Meanwhile, the Family Resource Center focuses on long-term family wellness through housing navigation, concrete support, parenting classes, and coaching for families with children. These programs help families address immediate needs while building skills for lasting stability.
Collaborating as a Hui
NPP is proud to collaborate with other Hawaiʻi Island agencies to better serve the county’s unhoused population. Together, NPP, HOPE Services Hawaiʻi, Project Vision Hawaiʻi, and Going Home Hawaiʻi comprise the Hawaiʻi County Homeless Engagement Hui.
As a Hui, we coordinate outreach, share resources, and even collaborate on individual client cases. This collaboration ensures that people in crisis receive the right help at the right time, no matter where they live on the island.
Strengthening Families, One Home at a Time
World Homeless Day is a reminder that when we work together, change happens. Every time a family moves into a safe home, a young person finds stability, or a neighbor is connected to vital resources, we move one step closer to ending homelessness on Hawaiʻi Island.
At Neighborhood Place of Puna, we believe that every person deserves a safe place to call home. And with your continued support, we’ll keep building those paths — one ʻohana, one connection, one home at a time.
If you or someone you know needs help with housing, rent assistance, or family resources, call or text (808) 501-1413.
If you’d like to help sustain this life-changing work, make a donation today at neighborhoodplaceofpuna.org/donate. Together, we can make home possible for everyone on Hawaiʻi Island.