The Institute for Human Services (IHS) started with one man’s compassion to help his fellow residents of Honolulu. Reverend Du Teil saw a need in the community and answered the need by opening a center offering peanut butter sandwiches three times a day to the citizens of Hawaii who were struggling with addiction and housing. Over 30 years later, the same compassion, caring and love Du Teil was known for is alive and well in the form of IHS.
IHS has been helping thousands of people avoid homelessness for nearly 30 years . Although IHS is better known for their emergency food and shelter programs for homeless persons in Honolulu, they have expanded their services in the past ten years to include housing placement assistance and many other services needed to help end and prevent homelessness for those who come seeking help. IHS realizes that permanent homes are inextricably tied to their success as service providers. In fact, IHS states “We envision a community where everyone has a right and responsibility to safe, decent and affordable housing.” One unique challenge Hawaii faces, and that makes their solution to homelessness more difficult than other states, is the desire of many who were raised there and want to live there but cannot afford to.
IHS’s NHC membership is focused on advocacy for better housing policy in Hawaii. NHC, in partnership with the National Association of REALTORS, will be hosting its’ fourth and final Bring Workers Home forum in Honolulu, HI on October 12.