Headstart Wailuku A - Ka Hale Ake Ola

The shelter appears to help only certain individuals. They removed me and my child a month ago, stating that they had run out of funds, despite my efforts to follow the rules and work toward stability. It felt as though financial considerations were prioritized over the well-being of families in need. Meanwhile, I observed other residents staying for two or three years, with ongoing issues such as marijuana use, drug activity, and individuals remaining idle throughout the day without consequence. During our stay, my child and I experienced what felt like harassment and targeting. Staff frequently entered our space around midnight, stating they were conducting “wellness checks.” While we were there, one resident passed away. The overall environment and treatment of residents created a deep sense of distress and hopelessness.

formal complaint regarding the treatment my child and I have experienced at the Wailuku shelter. The conditions and practices we have endured over the past several months have been harmful, degrading, and inconsistent with the purpose of a shelter meant to support vulnerable families. Despite actively searching for housing on a daily basis, staff repeatedly accused us of not completing housing logs. Residents who are unemployed are required to provide paystubs or proof of income, which is unreasonable and impossible for individuals who are actively seeking work. Failure to provide such documentation has been used as justification to threaten discharge, including forcing children back onto the streets. The shelter conducts nightly wellness checks at late hours, often after midnight, in a manner that feels intrusive and harassing rather than supportive. On multiple occasions, staff falsely claimed that we were not present in our unit at night when we were clearly inside and asleep. These claims are not supported by credible evidence. During hygiene inspections, staff have made arbitrary assumptions, such as stating that a cup remaining in the same place proves residents were not in the unit. This logic is flawed and unprofessional. The placement of personal items does not indicate absence and should never be used as documentation to support disciplinary action or discharge. There is a clear lack of consistent enforcement. Some residents remain outside all day, do not comply with program requirements, and are frequently not in their units at night, yet they face no consequences. Families who are compliant and attempting to improve their situation are instead subjected to increased scrutiny, belittlement, and threats of removal. After seven months in this shelter, instead of receiving support, we have experienced emotional distress, fear, and ongoing harassment. The treatment we have received has been degrading and has caused significant harm, especially to a child who should never be subjected to instability due to false claims or arbitrary enforcement.and they also all about money and they claim they running out funds when they make people who stay there pay rent at shelter family life center shelter help more and doesn't charge fee and many people who committed suicide and or die and past couple month we need fight stand for right they one do what they need do should be able stay and one do drug and drink smoke weed in unit they don't kick out at all and me my daughter almost got attack by crazy man they still have him there it not safe and there many favoritism there

They have great staff, extremely helpful, informative, understanding and some amazing resources. If your struggling and need help. I recommend coming here, staying actively enrolled in classes and proceeding to show improvement. Also great conversations with others hearing everyone's story makes you feel not alone. At any moment at anytime, your life can change. What you once had was gone. What once was gone has been gained. "Time & Karma When a bird is alive, it eats ants. When a bird is dead, ants eat the bird. Time & circumstances can change at anytime. Don't devalue or hurt anyone in your life. You May be powerful today, but remember time is more powerful than you! One tree makes a million matchsticks. Only one match stick is needed to burn a million trees. So be good and do good because you Never know what will happen. " I'm thankful everyday! That with the help of many others has me here alive and keeping one foot in front of the other! " Don't give up"

They may help you with a short time to get off the streets. Yes it's all about money. The one place that can take you off the streets, puts you right back on the streets if you don't have money. We wouldn't be homeless if we had money right?? Need new ppl to work here. They have control and power issues. They will kick you out and expect you out in just a few hours. They don't work quick enough to help you get back on your feet before they end up kicking you out. Definitely need a new program here.

They don’t do what they are supposed to do they don’t really help you out there communicating skills is not good they throw all your belongings away after getting kicked out they DO NOT GIVE YOU A CHANCE TO GET IT (LOST OVER $5K or more worth of belongings) I would not recommend coming here at all I also came in a few days ago to claim my mail but one of the staffs there in the operations department tried withhold my mail and told me to come back the next day but I ended up staying the same day and went back after making a phone call to USPS with that being said find a homeless shelter who is really there to help you out and get you back up on you’re feet they expect you to have a job and money before coming in if not they’ll immediately kick you out I wish you all luck 🙏