Contact: 808.589.1829 Ext. 233
Independent Living Programs (ILP)
Hale Kipa’s Independent Living Programs provide outreach services and residential programs for youth who are in or transitioning out of foster care, to prepare them for independent living. Services include skill building, higher education preparation and benefits, financial literacy, career exploration, and employee readiness.
Imua Kākou (IK)
Contact: 808.589.1829 Ext. 233
Exiting foster care can be difficult for many youth and young adults, as they may lose a valuable support system. Imua Kākou (moving forward together) is a voluntary program from the Hawaii Department of Human Services that extends the services of foster care to young adults who turned 18 while in foster care. Services are offered until age 21. Hale Kipa provides case management services for this program on O‘ahu.
Benefits may include:
• Medical and dental coverage
• Monthly living assistance payments
• Resource assistance and support from a case manager
Eligibility Criteria
Participants are eligible if they are between the ages of 18 and their 21st birthday and meet one of the following criteria:
• Turned 18 or older while in foster care in Hawai‘i and emancipated or “aged out” of the system.
• Participant was placed in legal guardianship or adopted at age 16 or older from foster care in Hawai‘i.
Participants must also meet at least one of the following criteria:
• Be working on completing a high school diploma, GED or equivalent, or
• Enrolled part or full-time in post-secondary education (college) or vocational school, or
• Participating in an employment program, or
• Working at least part-time, 80 hours a month, or
• Be identified as medically disabled.
Step-Up Housing Program & Foster Youth to Independence (FYI)
Contact: 808.589.1829 Ext. 233
Hale Kipa’s Step-Up Housing & Foster Youth to Independence Programs on O‘ahu allows young adults a choice in their selection of a decent, safe and affordable home on their journey to self-sufficiency.
Under the Family Unification Program, Step-Up Housing & Foster Youth to Independence Programs provides Housing Choice Vouchers to youth aging out of foster care. Housing assistance through Section 8 is awarded to young adults for a maximum of 36 months. A voucher allows the participants to rent a home in the community of their choice. Participants initially pay between 30% and 40% of their monthly adjusted income toward rent and utilities, with the balance paid through Section 8.
Eligibility Criteria:
• In foster care after the age of 16
• Currently age 18 through 24
• Have a stable source of income
• Currently lack adequate housing
