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The organization has been providing rental and housing assistance, food, clothing vouchers, and emotional and spiritual care since mid-July.
By David Sayre –
The Salvation Army’s Family Services Office in Honolulu, Hawaii, continues to serve residents affected by last summer’s Marco Polo condominium fire.
Last week, The Salvation Army staffed a special on-site assistance office at the condominium for two days to reach additional residents. Services provided include rental and housing assistance, food, clothing, and emotional and spiritual care. Marco Polo residents or their families were able to request these services at the on-site office.
“A crisis at home can be overwhelming; that’s why we are continuing our assistance at Marco Polo,” said Anna Stone, Director of The Salvation Army’s Family Services Office and Pathway of Hope. “Not only do residents have the ongoing needs of daily food, shelter, and emotional and spiritual care, but also they have extended financial needs in terms of rental assistance and basic items. We also ask the public for additional monetary donations for our Family Services Office for assistance.”
Donations have helped The Salvation Army permanently house eight households and stabilize an additional four households via long-time community partner Kyo-ya Hotels & Resorts/Sheraton Princess Kaiulani. The State of Hawaii also waived the transient accommodations tax on the hotel rooms, providing a boost to The Salvation Army.
“By being on-site again, we hope to reach additional residents-in-need, including displaced families from the 25th, 26th and 27th floors of the building,” Stone said. “We also are able to provide referrals to partner agencies for any needs residents may have that are beyond our scope of work.”
The Salvation Army has raised approximately $40,000 in monetary donations to date for disaster relief assistance for Marco Polo residents affected by the July 2017 fire.
To support relief efforts, visit hawaii.salvationarmy.org and click on the “Donate Now” link.
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