IHS, The Institute for Human Services

IHS is Oahu's first and largest 24-hour emergency walk-in shelter for men, women and families with children who are homeless. In Fiscal Year 2008, IHS served over 2,800 unduplicated individuals with assistance including 1,582 individuals with emergency shelter services, 724 family individuals with rental assistance ans short-term case management, 86 individuals with Permanent Supportive Housing services, and an estimated 500 other individuals with meals, hygiene, information and referral services. IHS provides emergency shelter for up to 200 men, 100 women and 25 families with children at its two shelter facilities located at 350 Sumner St (Men's facility) and 546 Ka'aahi St (Women and Families' facility). All individuals are provided with basic emergency shelter services (sleeping accommodations, meals, hygiene, laundry, storage, mail service). All adults are provided brief services by guest advocate staff. All families and requesting adults receive comprehensive case management services. Through effective partnering IHS is able to offer a wide range of on-site services including family enrichment courses (TIFFE), substance abuse counseling (Hina Mauka), medical and dental care (Kalihi Palama Healthcare for the Homeless). This is only a partial list!

IHS is committed to serving people who are homeless in our community by providing the basic human needs of food, clothing, and shelter in an environment of compassion, fairness and dignity. We seek to significantly improve the lives of our guests by providing supportive services which are professional, equitable and transformative. We believe that all people in our community have the right to safe, affordable and decent housing and IHS is committed to a leadership role in changing this belief into a reality. IHS will provide temporary shelter and work to end chronic homelessness through innovative collaborations and strategic programs. IHS has been providing services to the people who are homeless on Oahu for over 30 years. The founder, Rev. Dr. Claude DuTeil started his outreach by handing out peanut butter sandwiches (on donated Love's Bakery bread) and hot coffee to people in need. This is how IHS derived its first name of "The Peanut Butter Ministry". Father Claude DuTeil was a great believer that everyone deserved to be treated with compassion, dignity and respect. This is what we seek in our volunteers and staff - a commitment to treating all our guests with compassion, dignity and respect.