RYSE is excited to announce its Mobile Crisis Outreach (MCO) project in partnership with five other Hawaii agencies that serve youth experiencing homelessness on Oahu. The MCO initiative allowed for the purchase of a van to carry out its operations and respond to youth experiencing homelessness where they are, when they need help, 24 hours a day and seven days a week. The MCO van also does pop-up visits twice a month to areas with high concentrations of youth experiencing homelessness.
This project came out of the Partners In Care Oahu Coordinated Community Plan To End Youth Homelessness. It is funded by a federally-awarded grant from the Housing and Urban Development- Youth Homelessness Demonstration Program, along with the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation, which provided startup resources for each of the partners: Hawaii Health and Harm Reduction Center, Hale Kipa, Waikiki Health, and Achieve Zero. Aloha Care also supports the project with funding, personnel, outreach, and supplies.
Services offered with the Mobile Crisis Outreach initiative include:
- Outreach and education
- Medical benefits registration
- Agency and service referrals
- Harm reduction services
- COVID screenings
- LGBTQ+ support
- Shelter referrals
- Food
- Clothing
- And much more
The MCO phone number is 808-861-6606.