HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0280.003 2024-2026Testimony in Support of Resolution 176-25
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Submitted by Momi Tong, Staff Member at Anchor Point Youthgit'en 9`r 19 PN : 5
Aloha Council Members,
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My name is Momi Tong, and I serve as a staff member at Anchor Point Youth Center. I'm here today
to speak from the heart and to share why I strongly support Resolution 176-25-not just as someone
who works in youth services, but as someone who walks alongside young people facing some of the
hardest moments of their lives.
At Anchor Point, we support youth ages 14 to 24 who are experiencing homelessness or are at risk
of becoming homeless. Many of them have been let down by systems that were meant to protect
them. Some have aged out of foster care with nowhere to turn. Others have left unsafe homes or
are couch surfing just to get through another night.
Our center strives to be more than just a shelter or a service provider. We aim to be a place where
young people feel seen, heard, and safe -sometimes for the first time in a long time. Through
meaningful relationships, we connect them with vital resources: housing, healthcare, mental health
support, and job opportunities. But before any of that can happen, we have to meet their most basic
needs.
That's where this resolution matters so deeply. The funding in Resolution 176-25 would allow us to
continue providing essential items like food, hygiene products, and clothing -simple things that make
a profound difference. A hot meal or a clean change of clothes might not seem like much, but in the
eyes of a youth who hasn't eaten in days or who hasn't had a safe place to shower, it can be
everything. COMM. t o 1
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I've seen what happens when a young person feels cared for, even in small ways. Their posture
changes. Their eyes lift. Hope starts to return. And with that hope comes a willingness to trust, to
engage, and to take the first step toward a more stable future.
Your vote on this resolution isn't just about funding supplies. It's about sending a message to our
young people that they matter -that their lives and their futures are worth investing in.
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Please support Resolution 176-25. Help us continue to be a source of hope and healing for the
youth of our community.
Mahalo nui loa for your time, your compassion, and your continued service.
Warmly,
Momi Tong
Anchor Point Youth Center