Kaua‘i Marks National Hunger and Homelessness Week with Outreach Events
The Kaua‘i County Housing Agency held a proclamation ceremony on Nov. 10 and announced observance of National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week, running Nov. 16 to Nov. 22, to highlight island efforts on poverty, hunger, and housing. As part of the week, Project Housing Connect is hosting three community outreach events linking residents to housing and social services, providing a direct access point for people in need and for organizations coordinating care.
The Kaua‘i County Housing Agency informed residents that it held a public proclamation ceremony on Monday, Nov. 10 and that the county is observing National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week from Nov. 16 to Nov. 22. The announcement emphasized partnerships with a range of local service providers, naming Hawai‘i Foodbank Kaua‘i, Kaua‘i Independent Food Bank, Family Life Center, Catholic Charities Hawai‘i, Hale ʻŌpio, Paʻa Lima, Project Vision Hawai‘i and other organizations that deliver food assistance, shelter referrals and supportive services.
Central to the county observance are three Project Housing Connect events designed to connect residents directly to housing resources and social services. The schedule places the first event today, Nov. 18, at the Līhuʻe Salvation Army. Additional events are set for Nov. 19 at the Hanapēpē Salvation Army and Nov. 20 at All Saints Church in Kapaʻa. Each Project Housing Connect session runs from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., providing a concentrated window for intake, referrals and warm handoffs to partner agencies.
The county release noted that contact information for the Housing Agency homeless coordinator and for Kaua‘i Community Alliance partners was included for residents seeking more information. It also stated that accommodations such as American Sign Language interpretation and alternate formats are available upon request. Those features are intended to broaden access for residents with differing needs and to encourage participation by people who might face communication barriers.
For Kaua‘i residents the events offer immediate, practical benefits. Project Housing Connect has been used historically as an opportunity to screen for emergency housing, enroll eligible individuals in benefits, and link clients to food and health services. The concentration of multiple agencies at single sites reduces barriers that can prevent people from reaching help, especially for residents who lack transportation or face urgency in securing shelter or meals.
From a policy perspective the week highlights enduring governance challenges on the island. Coordination among nonprofit providers and county agencies is a necessary but not sufficient condition for addressing housing affordability and persistent food insecurity. Tracking the outcomes of outreach efforts such as Project Housing Connect, including placements and follow up services, will be important for assessing whether short term interventions translate into sustained housing stability. Community members and policymakers will need to consider continuity of funding, capacity of service providers and links to state and federal programs if the county aims to reduce homelessness and hunger over time.
The observance and the Project Housing Connect events create immediate access points for residents and a platform for local accountability on how resources are deployed. Residents seeking assistance or more information are directed to the Housing Agency and Kaua‘i Community Alliance contacts listed in the county release.
