Progress has been slow but steady in efforts to counter Honolulu’s homelessness crisis, but that progress is also illuminating the deep complexity of the problem, and the need for an even more intense focus.
The "sit-lie" laws enacted by the City Council to move people off the streets in Waikiki and other selected areas of the city have been largely effective. However, many have moved into other neighborhoods, and in some areas, the encampments are becoming entrenched.
This means that, in addition to continuing momentum of helping the chronically homeless in its ongoing Housing First program, the city and partners in the private and nonprofit sectors must accelerate what is being done for others among the growing population living on the street. And that includes the city’s prompt development of more transitional shelter options that are decent and safe, and of permanent affordable units built through partnerships.
The city is now roughly halfway through its first year of a two-year contract with the Institute for Human Services to help 115 households with apartment placements, rental subsidies and "wraparound services," and has placed 46 people. Since it’s largely individuals who comprise the "chronically homeless" — a category covering those with prolonged or repeated bouts of homelessness, often accompanied by other health and social ills — this seems to be a reasonable pace.
But the administration has not yet moved on another element in the plan devised last year: creating a temporary, transitional place for the homeless who have not found other accommodation. Originally, a site on Sand Island had been secured for the transition, but that plan was put on hold because of concerns there could be toxic contamination of the ground in the industrial district.
The delay was particularly ill-timed, coming just before the sit-lie ordinance took effect when the city needed somewhere for the displaced homeless to go. That problem eased somewhat when room was found in existing shelters, and Housing First got under way.
The city administration has until June 30 to commit the $750,000 allotted for the Sand Island project. Up until now officials have not disclosed what they plan to do. State health officials have concluded in recent weeks that the Sand Island site could be used safely as a transition shelter site, but it’s unclear whether that’s the best option available.
What Gary Nakata, director of the city Department of Community Services, would say is that the city will use the funds for transitional shelter purposes. It’s crucial that the commitment be kept, and with structures that can provide a measure of security and basic comfort. Many are families now eking out an existence in tents wedged along fences in Kakaako, along a canal in Kapalama or any number of other unacceptable places. They cannot remain on the streets indefinitely; the longer the delays, the bigger and more deeply rooted their encampments become.
Any transitional site must keep order while maintaining a sense of community and dignity for those who are moved off the streets. In many of the more successful transitional projects in other cities, residents are involved in governance of their homes, however temporary. Lessons could be learned from them.
Whichever site is selected, children need a place to play, and providing some play equipment could be an entry point for contributions from private and nonprofit donors. Another could be provision for some limited storage space: Many households have possessions and records they should be able to keep but can’t fit into the tiny domicile they’re likely to get.
Finally, there must be movement on creating more permanent units for more families living with homelessness or just about to tip over. Fortunately, the administration has begun fleshing out spending plans for the $32 million in bond money that was authorized and roughly $13 million in other funds.
Plans, according to city documents, include "microunits" at Winston Hale, the city-owned Chinatown complex; for modular units to go up in Waianae; and for sites to be secured along the rail route and in Ewa.
The progress is encouraging, but only if maintained. The mayor and the Council in particular need to work in tandem to see that momentum is not lost. The homeless need shelter, but they can’t rely on the public parks, sidewalks and byways — needed for all Oahu residents — to provide it.
