Hope, Help and Healing Kaua‘i is now able to offer free treatment services for people meeting certain criteria, said Tina Albao, HHHK community development coordinator.
HHHK, a community nonprofit organization, was notified by the Kaua‘i County Housing Agency and the office of Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. that funds are being made available for free substance abuse treatment through the county’s Community Development Block Grant program.
Labelled Island Intervention, HHHK applied for the grant in 2010, and funds will be utilized for assessments, outpatient treatment, drug testing and group therapy for individuals dealing with substance abuse and addiction problems.
“This is going to be very beneficial to people who can’t afford to pay for treatment,” Albao said in a HHHK release.
Clients needing free treatment services will need to qualify for funding under the HUD income guidelines, but HHHK is available to help people through this process, the release states.
“The majority of the clients we serve meet the criteria for low to moderate income,” said Malia Tokioka, CSAC Executive Director. “The money from the grant will be used to treat people who can’t afford to put themselves in treatment.”
No one should hesitate to call the HHHK office because there are a wide variety of treatment options and funding opportunities, the release states.
“This is an open door to a new life, and we at HHHK are grateful to the County Housing Agency and Mayor Carvalho for the support and providing us this opportunity to make a difference,” Tokioka said. “Jo Shimamoto, recently retired from the Housing Agency, Kerri Villa, and Sharon Kelekoma were very helpful with our application process. We could not have done this without their help.”
In addition to the CDBG grant, HHHK, recently moved to its new office on 3136 Elua Street in Lihu‘e, is working to expand its program offerings in 2011.
This expansion increases availability and affordability to people needing a variety of services to combat addiction.
Albao said, “Thanks to our supportive community foundations, we have also received funds to start domestic violence and anger management classes.”
These class availability and scheduling can be done by calling the HHHK office at (808) 431-4256, or by e-mail at office@hhhk.org.
