Not everyone who needs help knows where to find it. And for many families and young people experiencing homelessness, finding help can often feel out of reach.
When you’re living out of a car, staying in a tent, or moving from place to place just to get through the week, things like filling out forms, making appointments, or even knowing who to call can quickly become overwhelming.
That’s why, at Neighborhood Place of Puna, we believe that support should look like meeting people where they are.
A New Program, Built from Experience
We’re proud to introduce our Family & Youth Street Outreach Program, a dedicated effort focused on supporting unsheltered families with children and youth ages 14–25 across East Hawaiʻi.
This program is built on years of experience conducting outreach throughout Hawaiʻi Island. We have learned what works by listening to our community and understanding the unique challenges that families and young people face when they lack stable housing.
Based on the insights gained from our previous Homeless Engagement Team program, the Family & Youth Outreach Program represents a refined and targeted approach.
Neighborhood Place of Puna’s mission is to strengthen families in Hawaiʻi County. By focusing specifically on unsheltered youth and families in East Hawaiʻi, we are more closely aligning with that mission.
This intentional shift allows us to leverage our past experiences to deepen our impact, enhance service delivery, and maximize outcomes for those most in need, all while staying true to our core purpose of strengthening families.
We’ve refined our approach, and this program is the result.
What Outreach Looks Like
When people hear “outreach,” they might picture a one-time interaction such as a quick check-in or handing out supplies.
But for us, outreach is about connection, building trust, and relationships.
Our team is out in the community at least four times each week, actively looking for and connecting with families and youth who may be staying in parks, cars, temporary encampments, or other unstable situations, making sure people know they’re not alone.
During outreach, some things our team does are:
- Offer food, hygiene kits, or other basic essentials
- Help someone understand what resources are available
- Connect families to emergency shelter options
- Provide referrals to health care or other services
- Talk through housing options and next steps
- Enroll individuals into the county’s coordinated system of care
When we meet someone, we listen. We learn their story. We ask what they need most right now.
Every interaction looks a little different because every person’s story is different.
Sometimes it starts with a simple conversation. Other times, someone is ready to take the next step right away.
Why Focus on Families and Youth?
Through years of outreach work across Hawaiʻi Island, we’ve learned that families with children and young people experience homelessness differently and benefit from support that is tailored to their needs.
This program is a direct response to that understanding.
By focusing specifically on unsheltered families and youth in East Hawaiʻi, we’re able to:
- Build deeper, more consistent relationships
- Respond more quickly to urgent needs
- Create clearer pathways into housing
- Support young people during critical stages of their lives
This approach allows us to be intentional, ensuring the right support reaches the right people at the right time.
From First Connection to Stability
As relationships grow, our team works with each person to understand their goals and connect them to the right support systems. This might include enrolling them in the county’s coordinated system of care, where they can access housing programs, shelter opportunities, and other services.
For families in urgent need, our team helps manage access to Hale ʻIki Family Assessment Center, an emergency shelter designed specifically for families with children. This ensures that those who are most vulnerable are prioritized for safe shelter.
When individuals and families are ready for the next step, we connect them to our Neighborhood Place Resource Center. There, they are paired with a Housing Navigator, someone who works alongside them to create a personalized plan for stability.
Together, they create a personalized plan that may include:
- Setting goals and identifying next steps
- Overcoming barriers like lack of documents or income
- Connecting to services and resources
- Finding and securing stable housing
This process doesn’t happen overnight. It takes time. But with consistent support, it leads to lasting stability.
A Community Effort
This work is part of a greater coordinated effort across Hawaiʻi County. We partner with service providers, shelters, and community organizations to ensure families and youth can access the support they need.
We also rely on our community.
If you see a family with children or a young person who may need support, you can help connect them to care.
If you are concerned about a family with minor children or a youth/young adult (ages 14–25) who is currently experiencing homelessness or at risk of losing housing in East Hawaiʻi, please complete our Family & Youth Referral Form.
The referral form is open to both community members and partner agencies, and submissions can be made anonymously if preferred.
Moving Forward, Together
At Neighborhood Place of Puna, our mission is to strengthen families — and this program is a natural extension of that commitment.
By focusing on early connection, consistent support, and housing-focused solutions, the Family & Youth Street Outreach Program helps create real, lasting pathways out of homelessness.
If you’d like to learn more, get involved, or connect someone to our outreach team, we invite you to reach out.