The Big Island’s nearly 100 homeless veterans soon will be able to quickly gain access to the many support services available to them in their own neighborhoods.
The Big Island’s nearly 100 homeless veterans soon will be able to quickly gain access to the many support services available to them in their own neighborhoods.
Members of the Community Alliance Partners, a coalition of more than 30 community service providers offering islandwide support services to the homeless and unsheltered, recently developed a strategic mapping document. This template identifies community service providers who assist the island’s veterans to gain immediate access to often critically needed services.
This effort, focusing on those who served in the military, is the first of several similar coordinated entry maps that will be developed for the Big Island’s other homeless populations, such as single parents.
Among the agencies included in the access map are Hope Services, which offers temporary housing and mental health counseling, and the county Office of Housing and Community Development, which offers long-term rental housing opportunities. Medical, mental health, educational and VA providers also are among the numerous organizations offering services for homeless veterans.
Access points and contact personnel also will be identified for veterans needing Medicaid and food stamps under the SNAP initiative.
“In the past, no single source document had been complied that identified how and where homeless veterans could go for help,” said Richard Dinges, Community Alliance Partners board member. “With this mapping document, all service providers can identify support services and user-friendly access points, thus ensuring veterans have an opportunity to benefit from the wide variety of community-based assistance programs that are available for them.”
“This combined community effort should result in veterans and community service providers partnering together so that no veteran is left behind or left homeless on the street” Dinges added.
For more information, call 969-3833 in Hilo and 329-0574 in Kona.