A key piece in the continuum-of-care puzzle aimed to at least manage if not eliminate the problem of homelessness on the island is the provision of transitional housing. Under the transitional-housing program managed by officials at Kauai Economic Opportunity, Inc.,
A key piece in the continuum-of-care puzzle aimed to at least manage if not eliminate the problem of homelessness on the island is the provision of transitional housing.
Under the transitional-housing program managed by officials at Kauai Economic Opportunity, Inc., participants in transitional-housing units at Lihue Court Townhomes for up to 24 months are given training that will hopefully allow them to emerge from the transitional housing into rental housing of their own, armed with life skills to allow them to remain independent, according to KEO officials.
Several occupants of transitional-housing units in Lihu‘e recently graduated from a life skills workshop conducted by KEO officials. A dinner followed the graduation ceremony.
Participants in the life skills workshop dedicated many hours exploring individual interests, skills and values in order to match those things with a career that is suitable for them, according to KEO instructors.
In order to develop self-sufficiency, each participant went through job-preparation training and job-exploration techniques to allow them to find a career that is realistic and achievable for them.
By setting appropriate goals and creating a plan to reach those goals, participants learned that finding satisfaction in a career can create a lifetime of sustainability, the KEO instructors continued.
Ultimately, participants learned to identify employability problems, identify their feelings about the problems, and learned new information about ways to solve the problems.
Graduates include Richard Borrero, Golden Lojan, Joseph Lopes, Marlon Tomacder, Darren Helliangao, Stephanie Samante, Peter Silva, Chasity Davis, Adriane Lanoza, Joann Lojan, Claudia Skelton and Edward Ferreira.
Involved KEO staff included MaBel Fujiuchi, chief executive officer; Kylene Leanio, facilitator; and Vernie Texeira, Stephanie Fernandes and Fred Maximo, co-facilitators.
“They came a real long way,” Fujiuchi said of the graduates.
