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The Maui News
Maui County has been awarded $195,000 in federal funding that will be used to provide basic medical care to unsheltered homeless people.
The funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development will pay for a physician to accompany outreach workers to locations where there are unsheltered homeless individuals. The doctor will provide some medical services, such as simple wound care and assessment of any chronic illnesses or other medical issues.
By establishing relationships between the physician and those being treated, outreach workers hope to more easily help unsheltered homeless people apply for services, including disability payments and federal housing subsidies, the county said in a news release Tuesday. Another goal is to encourage more unsheltered homeless people to go to a clinic for services, including behavioral and mental health programs.
"By using the federal funds awarded to the county, we can help support medical needs of our unsheltered homeless," said Lori Tsuhako, director of the county Department of Housing and Human Concerns. "The implementation of this program will mean more services to those in need and a way to improve health conditions for those living unsheltered. It's going to make an important difference in the lives of those who are unsheltered and is a part of our efforts to help an unsheltered homeless individual gain stability."
The department has been working on developing the program in partnership with Malama I Ke Ola Health Center and homeless outreach providers.
Maui County was among approximately 30 states and 173 local homelessness programs across the nation that were awarded a total of $315 million in funding to address unsheltered individuals and families with severe service needs, the news release said. HUD announced the awards on Thursday.
Maui County is the only Neighbor Island municipality that applied for and was granted an award through this competition, the news release said. It will receive the funding over three years.