LIHU‘E — A $10,000 grant from Nareit Hawai‘i was the bright spot in the morning grayed by rain and traffic tieups for the Women In Need meeting at the Kealaula housing project in Pua Loke.
Women In Need supports the families living in the Kealaula on Pua Loke housing project to fulfill basic needs and help them successfully transition from being homeless to having their own home.
The grant from Nareit Hawai‘i presented Friday fills a funding gap in complementing the efforts of Women In Need, being utilized to help Kealaula on Pua Loke residents acquire basic essentials to stock their units, such as laundry soap, dish soap, toilet paper, and toothpaste — items they didn’t have to buy while being homeless.
“We are truly grateful for Nareit Hawai‘i’s generosity to Women In Need and the community of Kealaula on Pua Loke,” said Mayor Derek S.K. Kawakami. “This grant will continue to support Women In Need to provide residents with necessities, social support services, and the knowledge needed to transition out of homelessness.”
Nareit Hawai‘i Executive Director Gladys Quinto Marrone, bringing the check over, praised the devotion of Women In Need in guiding Kaua‘i families to turn their lives around.
“In just its first two years, Women In Need has already established an admirable record and shown what is possible when a community commits housing resources to get people off the streets and into homes,” Marrone said. “We are honored to be their partner in supporting the residents of Kealaula on Pua Loke as they work toward a better life.”
Opened in Lihu‘e in December 2020, Kealaula on Pua Loke is a tiny homes community of 15 single-story duplex buildings offering 22 one-bedroom units and six studio units, each with its own bathroom and kitchen, and use of a shared community building for activities and events.
Currently, 20 families, six individuals, and two kupuna live in the 28 housing units. Residents can live in the community for up to two years while working to permanently transition out of homelessness.
Women In Need staff manages the community and provides residents with both social services support and the education of skills needed for them to go forward with plans to be self-sufficient. Services provided include medical care, financial advice, employment and educational support, addressing substance abuse, recovery from domestic violence, and parenting life skills.
Women In Need Executive Director Mary Scott-Lau said Kealaula on Pua Loke is the first transitional housing project of its type in Hawai‘i. The program is producing results that make Kaua‘i a stronger community.
“To date, Women In Need has provided services to 55 households, of which 26 have successfully transitioned into permanent housing,” Scott-Lau said.
“Our residents are transitioning from different walks of life, and may need extra assistance in adjusting to their new home. These funds from Nareit Hawai‘i help us in providing additional support and services that our residents need at Kealaula.”
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 808-245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
