Kauai Housing Agency Proclaims Support, Launches Outreach for Homelessness
The Kauai County Housing Agency will hold a proclamation ceremony on Nov. 10 to mark the county's recognition of National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week and to kick off a series of Project Housing Connect outreach events across the island. The outreach, set for Nov. 18–20 at three community sites, aims to strengthen connections between residents experiencing homelessness and local service providers, with implications for public health and social equity on Kauai.
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Kauai County's Housing Agency is inviting the public to a proclamation ceremony on Monday, Nov. 10, from 10:00 to 10:30 a.m. at the Līhu‘e Civic Center Mo‘ikeha Rotunda. The event precedes National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week, observed Nov. 16–22, and precedes a series of Project Housing Connect outreach activities scheduled for later in the month.
Project Housing Connect outreach events will run from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 18 at the Līhu‘e Salvation Army, Wednesday, Nov. 19 at the Hanapēpē Salvation Army, and Thursday, Nov. 20 at All Saints Church in Kapa‘a. The county identifies these coordinated outreach efforts as opportunities to bring community resources to areas where residents experiencing homelessness live or congregate and to facilitate connections with county and nonprofit programs.
The Housing Agency is organizing the proclamation and outreach in partnership with local nonprofit sites, including the Salvation Army locations in Līhu‘e and Hanapēpē and All Saints Church in Kapa‘a, and has designated Homeless Coordinator Farah Aquino as the county contact for the initiative. Residents may reach the office via email at faquino@kauai.gov or by phone at 808-241-4427 for more information.
Local public health experts and advocates note the intersecting risks of housing instability, food insecurity and limited access to medical care. Outreach events like Project Housing Connect can reduce barriers to services by creating centralized opportunities for referrals, intake and coordination. On Kauai, where geographic isolation, limited public transportation and high housing costs complicate service delivery, mobile and site-based outreach play a practical role in emergency response and prevention.
Beyond immediate service connections, the proclamation and outreach are a civic reminder of broader policy challenges. Persistent shortages in affordable housing, gaps in behavioral health care and structural inequities in income and access contribute to homelessness and hunger. County-level coordination, increased funding for supportive housing, and expanded partnerships between health providers and social services are among the policy levers public health professionals say are needed to address root causes.
For community members, the series offers both a practical entry point to assist neighbors and a forum to learn about county efforts during National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week. Volunteers, faith-based organizations, and service providers often use these events to streamline outreach and minimize duplication, which helps scarce resources reach more people.
Kauai County residents seeking details or wishing to participate are encouraged to contact Homeless Coordinator Farah Aquino at faquino@kauai.gov or 808-241-4427. The Housing Agency's events underscore the county's effort to combine immediate outreach with advocacy for longer-term, equity-focused solutions to housing instability and food insecurity.
