Page 4 - Hawaii Island MidWeek - Feb 1, 2023

4 HAWAI‘I ISLAND MIDWEEK FEBRUARY 1, 2023
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solution that really address that in the most effective way,” Mitchell explains.
Prior to joining IHS, Mitch- ell worked as a psychiatric nurse for the state Department of Health. Since some home- less individuals may also be dealing with mental health issues, Mitchell believes her prior experience has proven to be very useful at IHS.
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“I didn’t realize maybe how much my background in men- tal health would be helpful, but it also is something that really drives me in this area,” says the University of Hawai‘i at Mā- noa alumna. “I think it gives me a different perspective be- cause I know what treatment can do for people and I really would like more people to get treated.”
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ANTHONY CONSILLIO
She adds that many home- less people are immigrants, too, and since she has immi- grant parents, she believes she can empathize with these indi- viduals in a unique way.
The Institute for Human Services and its executive director Connie Mitchell have been a source of strength for the Thomeless in helping them find a fresh path forward.
namic duo, from what I under- stand,” Mitchell says, adding that they would transport peo- ple to the hospital and even in- vite them into their own home. “It really was a lifestyle of car- ing for people that just went beyond a job. I think that we (at IHS) try to emulate that as much as possible.”
medical respite homes called Tūtū Bert’s House. Named in honor of Roberta DuTeil, these homes cater to those being released from hospitals who need medical monitoring but no longer require hospital-lev- el care.
“I think knowing what my parents went through, and the struggles we had, it helps me to be, on the one hand, pretty compassionate to people that may be experiencing the same thing,” she shares. “On the oth- er hand, I think it also fuels me with a desire to challenge folks to be empowered and to really take advantage of opportuni- ties that are set before you.”
he unfortunate truth Over the past 10 years, The organization’s positive is that homelessness IHS has assisted nearly impact actually dates back can happen to any- 20,000 homeless individuals to the late ’ 70s with Father
one. Whether it be due in obtain subsidized and un- Claude DuTeil’s peanut butter
part to high housing costs, substance abuse, job loss or medical debt, a person may be just one life-altering event away from being at risk.
subsidized housing. It’s also served more than 2 million meals in that period.
ministry. The volunteer-driv- en movement aimed to help those living on Oʻahu’s streets by providing them with peanut butter sandwiches and coffee.
Throughout Oʻahu, more than 500 individuals reside at the agency’s various perma- nent housing communities. Being that each situation is unique, the housing process is different for everyone, but IHS hopes that within a cou- ple months, it can move peo- ple from its shelter and find them permanent housing.
While individuals are wel- come to visit IHS shelters, the nonprofit also takes its ser- vices directly to those in need through its street medicine program, which helps treat ailments and encourages indi- viduals to come to the center for help.
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live, finding work is the key to financial stability. As such, in addition to helping clients settle into permanent housing, IHS also offers employment services. Its Hele2Work pro- gram helps individuals get workforce ready by assisting with résumé writing, develop-
The Institute for Human Services, which officially became a nonprofit in 1982, understands that each situ- ation is unique and aims to create tailored solutions for those in need. In addition to providing food and shel- ter, the organization offers supportive services to help individuals heal and succeed.
“The number of homeless families on Oʻahu has been going down,” shares IHS executive director Connie Mitchell, who has been with the agency for nearly 20 years. “I think that when we as a community — and particular- ly our homeless services pro- vider community — can focus on one sub-population, we’re really able to help decrease the homeless among them.”
Being that DuTeil struggled with both alcoholism and de- pression, he saw the need for more integrated clinical in- tervention. Between him and his wife, Roberta, their com- passion for others sparked a change within the communi- ty, and is the reason IHS has grown into what it is today.
s Hawai‘i is one of the nation’s most expensive places to
“They just really were a dy-
In addition to providing on- site medical services to shel- ter guests, IHS operates five
“Our specialty is triage, try- ing to figure out what, in fact, is the most impactful issue that is going on with that person — or issues, as a lot of times it’s more than one thing — and to be able to come up with a
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