Butch and Remy Alegre have participated in Hale Kipa’s Transitional Family Homes Program for more than a decade, caring for over 60 total youth from their home on O‘ahu.
Remy, who has two grown children and five grandchildren, and works in accounting in the hospitality industry, said she started fostering after seeing so many homeless youth.
“Hawai‘i has lots of kids on the street, and it breaks my heart to see them,” she said. “When youth in Hale Kipa’s Transitional Family Homes Program come to your house, you can show them you care about them and you want to help them and help the community.”
Remy, who has fostered youth for a few days up to nearly a year, says some of them still call her and talk about life as an adult – sharing important milestones such as living on their own, starting a job, getting married and having children.
“When I help them have a better future in life, that’s my reward,” she said.
She focuses on helping youth learn basic chores, such as how to clean their room and prepare dinner staples like rice.
“I tell them that if they do it here, they can do it when they get home, and their parents will be so proud,” she said.
