A Honolulu homeless shelter has received a $1.5 million federal grant to bring psychiatrists to people living on the streets and otherwise help the chronic homeless.

The Institute for Human Service’s executive director, Connie Mitchell, said today the grant will pay for psychiatrists to accompany outreach teams visiting people living in parks and on the streets.

This will allow workers to offer mental health care to people who refuse to come to a shelter.

The funds will also help different service providers to work together.

Half of the money, which is being paid out over three years, will go to organizations working with IHS including The Queen’s Medical Center and the University of Hawaii’s medical school.