The Institute for Human Services

What The Institute for Human Services does

The Institute for Human Services (IHS) is a 501c3 nonprofit organization founded in 1978 in Honolulu, Hawaii, operating the state's most comprehensive continuum of homeless services exclusively on the island of Oahu. IHS operates emergency shelters (Sumner Men's Shelter, Kaaahi Women's and Family Shelter), specialized shelters (Hale Mauliola, V.E.T. House, Kalihi-Uka Recovery Homes), five medical respite homes (Tutu Bert Homes), permanent supportive housing communities (Kahauiki Village, Community Re-entry Homes, Alana Ola Pono, Paepae Hou, Kumu Ola Hou), and Hawaii's first community-based detox center ('Imi Ola Piha, opened 2023). The organization also delivers outreach, three meals daily (nearly 3 million meals over the past decade), health services, employment services (Hele2Work, New Leaf, Taking Root), case management, and assisted community treatment—serving over 16,000 individuals in shelters and 18,000+ in housing over the past ten years.

IHS operates a proprietary Homeless Care Coordination App and a NEC-funded Outreach App integrating biofacial recognition and GPS mapping for client identification and service coordination, alongside integration with HMIS (Homeless Management Information System) and the Coordinated Entry System (CES). Technology is centrally used as coordination infrastructure connecting public safety, healthcare, housing, courts, and social services into a single service pathway, but the core deliverable is human-delivered shelter, housing, and case management rather than a software product.

The organization's revenue model is a hybrid of government grants, fee-for-services, and private contributions. FY2024 audited revenue was $27.7M, with government grants (City & County of Honolulu, State of Hawai'i, HUD, VA, Dept. of Health, and Dept. of Human Services) representing 50.4% ($13.98M), fee-for-services representing 14.5% ($4.03M), and private contributions representing 10.1% ($2.79M). Services are provided at no cost to clients; the "customer" mix is split between government funders (revenue), institutional partners (referral channels), and individuals experiencing homelessness (service recipients). CARF accreditation since 2004 and a Charity Navigator top rating support credibility with institutional funders.

Name

The Institute for Human Services

Legal name

The Institute for Human Services

Website

https://ihshawaii.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1978

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

The Institute for Human Services is a Honolulu-based 501c3 nonprofit founded in 1978 that operates Oahu's most comprehensive continuum of homeless services, including emergency shelters, medical respite homes, permanent supportive housing, employment programs, and Hawaii's first community-based detox center.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Homeless and Human Services

NAICS

Community Housing Services (62422), Temporary Shelters (624221), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412), Outpatient Mental Health and Substance Abuse Centers (621420)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Home Health Care Services (8082)

akta.pro primary industry

Homelessness Prevention, Shelter & Supportive Housing Services (BPAIANAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Housing Assistance & Homeless Services (BPAGAEAB), Emergency Shelter, Camp Management & Non-Food Items (NFI) (BPAGAAAC), Independent Living Community Ancillary Services (Dining/Transportation/Wellness Programs) (HLADAAAI)

Keywords

• Homeless services
• Emergency shelter
• Transitional housing
• Case management
• Human services nonprofit

Headquarters

HQ city

Honolulu

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices18 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Government Grants: City, state, and federal government grants totaling $13.98M representing 50.4% of total revenue. Sources include HUD, City & County of Honolulu, State of Hawai'i, Dept. of Veterans Affairs, Dept. of Health, and Dept. of Human Services.
2. Fee for Services Revenue: Earned through program delivery, totaling $4.03M representing 14.5% of revenue. Includes fees from service contracts and program operations.
3. Private Contributions: Individual donors and foundation support totaling $2.79M representing 10.1% of revenue. Includes corporate donations, foundation grants, and individual giving.
4. Total Annual Revenue: Total audited FY2024 revenue of $27.7M. Government grants represent the largest revenue stream at 50.4%, followed by fee-for-services at 14.5%, and private contributions at 10.1%.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Institute for Human Services (IHS) is a Hawaii-based 501c3 nonprofit that delivers a comprehensive continuum of homeless services across Oahu, including emergency shelters, transitional housing, permanent supportive housing, medical respite care, substance abuse recovery, street outreach, case management, employment services, meals, and health services. The organization operates as a coordination hub linking public safety, healthcare, housing, courts, and social services into a single pathway serving homeless individuals, families, veterans, and the medically vulnerable. All services are provided at no cost to clients, funded through government grants, fee-for-service contracts, and private contributions.

Product overview

IHS is a 501c3 nonprofit providing a comprehensive continuum of homeless services across Oahu, Hawaii, operating since 1978. The organization functions as a platform-plus-services model offering emergency shelters (Sumner Men's Shelter, Kaaahi Women's and Family Shelter), specialized shelter programs (Hale Mauliola, Tutu Bert Medical Respite Homes, V.E.T. House, Kalihi-Uka Recovery Homes), permanent supportive housing (Kahauiki Village, Community Re-Entry Homes, Alana Ola Pono, Paepae Hou, Kumu Ola Hou), and supportive services (outreach, meals, health services, employment via Hele2Work with sub-programs New Leaf and Taking Root, family programs, case management). IHS also developed an Outreach App with NEC technology integrating biofacial recognition and GPS mapping for service coordination.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Hele2Work (H2W): Employment services program helping people who are homeless or at-risk for homelessness get workforce ready with free business attire, resume writing, interview skills, childcare referrals, transportation help, budgeting courses, and skill development.
• New Leaf
• Taking Root
• Tutu Bert Medical Respite Homes
• 'Imi Ola Piha

Products and services

• Sumner Men's Shelter Oahu's first homeless shelter, opened in 1986, providing emergency shelter for up to 120 men nightly. Serves as hub for IHS meal program with commercial kitchen and walk-in health clinic.
• Kaaahi Women's and Family Shelter Emergency shelter opened in 1997 serving up to 80 single women and 100 family members with learning center, children's programs, and vocational training facilities.
• Hale Mauliola at Sand Island Housing navigation center constructed from repurposed shipping containers serving up to 50 guests, accommodating individuals, couples, and their pets with parking and shuttle services.
• Tutu Bert Medical Respite Homes Five medical respite homes across Oahu providing post-hospital recovery care for homeless individuals who need continued medical monitoring but not hospital-level care.
• Veterans Engaged in Transition (V.E.T.) House Specialty shelter and case management pathway for U.S. veterans connecting to VA benefits, veteran-specific housing programs, and peer mentorship in Kalihi Valley.
• Kalihi-Uka Recovery Homes (KURH) Substance abuse recovery housing for homeless individuals enrolled in outpatient behavioral health programs, providing a supportive peer community during treatment.
• Kahauiki Village Permanent supportive housing community with 140 units (80 two-bedrooms, 60 one-bedrooms) for formerly homeless families and kupuna (elders 62+), including daycare, youth center, and community garden.
• Community Re-Entry Homes Transitional housing for formerly incarcerated individuals including House of Redemption 1 & 2 and Village of Redemption, housing 40 individuals with case management, employment, and recovery services.
• Alana Ola Pono Kauhale 45-unit tiny home community in Iwilei serving as a stepping stone for individuals on their journey to permanent housing with IHS supportive services access.
• Paepae Hou Kauhale 12-bed State Kauhale Initiative site for post-substance abuse treatment transition serving males in their recovery journey.
• Kumu Ola Hou Trauma-sensitive transitional shelter combining architectural design, neuroscience, and cultural wisdom for individuals healing from homelessness-related trauma on their journey to stable housing.
• 'Imi Ola Piha Homeless Triage and Treatment Center Hawaii's first community-based medically-assisted detox center with 8 beds providing alcohol, opioid, and meth withdrawal treatment plus psychiatric initiation for homeless adults.
• Street Medicine Program Hawaii's first street medicine program launched January 2017 providing medical care to chronically homeless including field administration of antipsychotics for severe mental illness.
• Assisted Community Treatment (ACT) Court-ordered treatment program petitioning Family Court for mental health treatment orders for chronically homeless individuals with severe mental illness who are dangers to themselves or others.
• Hele2Work (H2W) Employment Services Employment services program helping homeless or at-risk individuals become workforce ready through free business attire, resume writing, interview skills, childcare referrals, transportation help, budgeting courses, and ongoing job coaching.
• Taking Root Urban Agriculture Program

Quantifiable outcome

• 174% year-over-year increase in housing placements
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

AI capability2 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• HomeAid HawaiicoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with HomeAid Hawaii in opening Medical Respite Homes for homeless individuals discharged from hospitals.
• Aloha United WaycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor nonprofit partner supporting homeless services. Kahauiki Village joined AUW's ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) Cohort in 2022.
• NECcoreTechnology or IntegrationGlobal tech leader NEC funded development of Outreach App integrating biofacial recognition and GPS mapping for homeless outreach services.
• Hawaii Food BankcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBasic needs partner providing food assistance through SNAP/EBT and direct food donations for meal program.
• Brain Health Applied Research Institute (B+HARI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in trauma-sensitive design and neuroscience approach for Kumu Ola Hou transitional shelter.
• Striker Construction LLCcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConstruction partner for Kumu Ola Hou trauma-sensitive transitional shelter.
• I–ON GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in trauma-sensitive design for Kumu Ola Hou transitional shelter.
• NOHO HOME by Jalene KananicoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDesign partner for Kumu Ola Hou trauma-sensitive transitional shelter.
• Down to Earth and Kokua MarketminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal grocery partners purchasing produce from Taking Root urban agriculture program.
• Hawaii Lodging and Tourism AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Return-to-Home Relocation Program helping stranded travelers reconnect with mainland support systems.
• Moana SurfridercoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHele2Work employer partner providing job opportunities for IHS clients in employment program.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves18 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Coalition for the Homeless: National advocacy and services organization providing shelter, housing, and policy advocacy for homeless populations. Comparable to IHS in operational breadth and government funding model, though more advocacy-focused.
• National Alliance to End Homelessness: National policy and research organization focused on homelessness solutions. Not a direct operator but provides the framework and federal advocacy that determine IHS's funding environment.

Direct peers

• PATH (People Assisting the Homeless): California-based nonprofit operating interim housing, permanent supportive housing, and employment programs for homeless individuals. Comparable to IHS in combining street outreach, interim housing, and rapid re-housing services.
• Catholic Charities Hawaii: Hawaii-based nonprofit providing social services including housing, immigration, and case management. Direct local peer to IHS with overlapping client base and government funding model.
• Salvation Army Hawaiian & Pacific Division: National faith-based nonprofit operating shelter, addiction recovery, and social services in Hawaii. Comparable to IHS in operating emergency shelters, recovery programs, and serving similar client populations in the same region.
• Family Promise: National nonprofit operating shelter networks, case management, and housing programs for homeless families. Comparable to IHS in its continuum-of-care model and reliance on government grants and volunteer/donor support.
• Volunteers of America: National nonprofit providing housing, re-entry, substance abuse, and veteran services across multiple states. Comparable to IHS in scale, multi-site shelter operations, and similar client segments (veterans, re-entry, recovery).

Regional players

• Aloha United Way: Hawaii nonprofit funder and ALICE initiative lead that channels donations to IHS and other service providers. Acts as a regional clearinghouse comparable to IHS in donor relations and Hawaii community-based funding.
• Honolulu Police Department's HONU Program: Government-operated outreach and navigation program at Ke'ehi Lagoon and Wahiawa that partners with IHS. Overlaps with IHS outreach and shelter services in the same Oahu geography.
• Helping Hands Hawaii: Hawaii nonprofit providing emergency assistance, case management, and social services. Local geographic peer to IHS serving overlapping community-based needs in Hawaii.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/takingroothawaii
• Xx.com/IHSHawaii
• Facebookfacebook.com/ihshawaii
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-institute-for-human-services

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Institute for Human Services