Housing Solutions wins PBN nonprofit leadership award

Pacific Business News’ tenth-annual Business Leadership Hawaii program has awarded $5,000 to Housing Solutions, Inc., winner of the Cades Schutte Nonprofit Leadership Award, funded by The Cades Foundation. HSI was recognized as an outstanding nonprofit, providing affordable and transitional housing on Oahu for 25 years. HSI operates eight facilities with 700 apartments.

Besides HSI, finalists for the nonprofit category included Kupu, MADD Hawaii, the American Red Cross Hawaii State Chapter, March of Dimes Hawaii Chapter and Imua Family Services. Each finalist was awarded $1,000 by The Cades Foundation. Terry Brooks, HSI president, accepted the award.

HSI does no fundraising and rarely solicits donations. It receives funding through grants and below-market rate rents from residents. “We just run it like a business and it takes care of itself,” Brooks said.

HSI accepts applicants moving to transitional housing facilities from homelessness or from emergency shelters, such as Next Step or Institute for Human Services. In addition to program services provided by its own staff, HSI connects transitional residents with services from other nonprofit and governmental agencies toward the goal of independent living. Long-term, affordable housing units are also available.