HONOLULU – Mayor Rick Blangiardi is pleased to announce that the Department of Community Services, WorkHawaiʻi Division, located at the Dole Cannery Office Building, is the latest site to partner with the Safe Spaces for Youth pilot project. Designated Safe Places can be identified nationwide by the gold and black “Safe Place” emblem displayed on-site.

Launched on Oʻahu and Hawaiʻi Island earlier this year in partnership with the Hawaiʻi Youth Services Network, Hale Kipa, The Salvation Army Family Intervention Services, and the Hawaiʻi State Office for Youth Services, the program aims to provide a safe haven for youth experiencing homelessness and unsafe environments, connecting them with needed resources. Learn more about National Safe Place here.

“As a newly designated Safe Place location, WorkHawaiʻi is honored to provide a safe space for youth in crisis, connecting them with vital resources,” said WorkHawaiʻi Administrator Leinaʻala Nakamura. “Our collaboration with Hale Kipa, the Hawaiʻi Youth Services Network, and the Department of Human Services strengthens our community’s ability to prevent youth homelessness and ensure a brighter future for at-risk youth.”

The Safe Place designation is the latest initiative pursued by the WorkHawaiʻi Division to further its commitment to providing necessary resources and eliminating barriers that community members face as they strive towards stability. The Department of Community Services continues to seek innovative ways to serve the people of Oʻahu.

For more information on WorkHawaiʻi services, program eligibility, enrollment, and other co-located partners, call WorkHawaiʻi at (808) 768-5703 or fill out the online WorkHawaiʻi Program Interest Form.

—PAU—