Nareit Foundation Presents $200,000 Grant to Family Promise of Hawai‘i to Help Families Transition from Homelessness to Stable Housing
HONOLULU – Oct. 4, 2023 – The Nareit Foundation today presented a $200,000 grant to the nonprofit Family Promise of Hawai‘i to support the introduction of a new facility that will help families with children experiencing homelessness make the transition to stable housing.
This child-friendly campus, called the ‘Ohana Navigation Center, will provide the critical resources that families need to quickly return to housing, drawing on Family Promise of Hawai‘i’s 17 years of experience to ensure that services are trauma-informed and culturally responsive.
“Family homelessness is one of Hawaii’s most urgent challenges, and we’re deeply grateful to the Nareit Foundation for sharing in our vision to address this crisis,” said Ryan Catalani, Executive Director of Family Promise of Hawaiʻi. “This grant will make a transformational impact for our organization as we expand to serve even more families in need. We look forward to working with the entire community to sustain these efforts as we work toward ensuring every child has a home.”
The Center will include affordable apartment units for low-income families with children, along with a non-congregate, short-term shelter to house families experiencing homelessness. On-site resources will include shower and laundry facilities, a community kitchen with access to free food, a children’s play area, a computer lab, and a community room for group activities. Case management, health screenings, and weekly education and financial workshops will also take place.
Presenting the Nareit Foundation grant to Family Promise of Hawai‘i was Nareit President and CEO Steve Wechsler and Nareit Hawaii Executive Director Gladys Quinto Marrone.
“The dedication of Family Promise of Hawai‘i to lift up families in need of reliable, affordable housing and better access to daily resources is admirable and valuable to the community-at-large,” Wechsler said. “Our REIT members can take satisfaction in knowing their support of the Nareit Foundation has made this grant possible to support the mission of Family Promise of Hawai‘i and, ultimately, to help these parents that are striving to make a better life for themselves and their children.”
Marrone added, “The ‘Ohana Navigation Center will make a life-changing impact to strengthen many families and reduce the daily stress and uncertainty that comes with the threat of being homeless. Everyone at every age wants to have the security of looking forward with hope and confidence that a better, more secure future is attainable. That’s what Family Promise of Hawai‘i is providing with the ‘Ohana Navigation Center and we are proud to join this community-driven program.”
Joining in today’s grant presentation from Family Promise of Hawai‘i were Elliot Woods, Director of Donor and Community Relations, Lama Chang, Director of Operations, and Board of Directors Vice President Justin Puckett and member Jordan Odo.
