CINDY ELLEN RUSSELL / CRUSSELL@STARADVERTISER.COM
A pedestrian walked along Maunakea Street past a police car near the Chinatown police substation on Wednesday.
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Mental Health Kokua (MHK) is actively seeking to improve the conditions in Honolulu’s Chinatown described by Oren Schlieman (“With Opens in a new tab more crime putting area at risk, 24/7 police patrols are needed — Opens in a new tabnow Opens in a new tab,” Star-Advertiser, Insight, Nov. 18).
MHK operates the public hygiene center at Pauahi Hale where our homeless services are housed.
To be clear, MHK staff closely monitor the hygiene center where drug dealing, street sex and other illegal activities are not tolerated. We often call the police and work closely with law enforcement officers. We participate in the Chinatown Watch sign program, work with merchants to conduct assertive homeless outreach, and support efforts to fund a security guard for added safety.
And we’re getting results: MHK has successfully placed more than 80 people experiencing homelessness into housing in 2018. And with that housing comes the opportunity for them to begin again.
MHK will continue to partner with the community, law enforcement and other city entities to provide much-needed services while building community trust, relationships and goodwill.
Greg Payton
CEO, Mental Health Kokua
Ala Moana
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