Maui Youth Join in Homeless Awareness Sign Waving Event in Kahului
About 25 Maui Economic Opportunity Youth Services participants and agency staff held signs along Kaʻahumanu Avenue as part of a Maui Homeless Alliance event on Tuesday, Nov. 16.
Some of the signs had messages that read “Homelessness Affects You,” “Everyone Should Have A Home” and “Imagine a Maui Where everyone lives in a House.”
The Homeless Alliance organized the sign-waving event in Kahului and Lahaina to mark National Hunger & Homeless Awareness Week from Nov. 13-21. The theme of the week is “Everybody Needs A Home.”
There were about 70 sign wavers at the Kahului event fronting the Queen Ka‘ahumanu Center. Organizations that offer help to Maui’s homeless individuals joined the sign waving, including Feed My Sheep, Family Life Center, Ka Hale A Ke Ola Homeless Resource Centers and Catholic Charities, as well as MEO. Maui County Homeless Coordinator David Nakama held a sign that read “Got Home.”
MEO’s contingent included 15 youth participants, as well as CEO Debbie Cabebe, COO Gay Sibonga, Youth Services Director Dane Ka‘ae, Community Services Director Cassi Yamashita and Housing Specialist Kathy Jimenez.
Rental, mortgage and utility assistance is available for those in need through MEO. Call 808-249-2970 and ask for a housing case manager or email rap@meoinc.org or cs@meoinc.org. Information also is available on the MEO website at meoinc.org.
Families interested in signing up their intermediate and high school youths in the MEO Youth Services after-school, summer and school holiday programs can call 808-249-2990 or email dane.ka‘ae@meoinc.org.