A sign hanging on the wall of Erica Maier’s new Waikiki apartment says, "It’s never too late to live happily ever after."
A few weeks ago the 48-year-old formerly homeless woman would have scoffed at such optimism. However, her life has changed radically since she became one of the first five Waikiki homeless people placed into permanent housing as a result of the Institute for Human Services’ $2 million city Housing First contract.
"I’m so grateful for this opportunity. It could be my last chance to make a life change," said Maier, who has struggled with bouts of drug addiction and homelessness since she was a 15-year-old runaway in Waikiki. "I’m going on 50 years old. I can’t see myself living like some of the people that I see on the streets that are 70 or 80 years old. Without this program it was a real possibility, but I’ve got hope now."
Maier is not alone. IHS officials say that since they kicked off their first full-time homeless outreach program in Waikiki on Nov. 3, the nonprofit has helped 63 of the district’s homeless people into shelter or housing.
The program began with a two-year $100,000 commitment from the Hawaii Lodging & Tourism Association and works in tandem with the city’s Housing First effort, which aims to provide housing and social services to Oahu’s most vulnerable homeless residents.
In December IHS also used its new airline relocation assistance program to send a 64-year-old homeless man to Plano, Texas, to reunite with his older sister, whom he had not seen in more than 20 years.
The results in just over two months mean the outreach program is off to a good start and might even surpass its initial goals, IHS officials said.
IHS Executive Director Connie Mitchell said the program’s goal was to serve 300 homeless people the first year. Of that total, IHS hoped to place 140 individuals into IHS shelters or homes and help another 120 return to their homes outside Hawaii through relocation assistance.
Mayor Kirk Caldwell lauded the initial success of the partnership between IHS, the tourism industry and government.
"What’s taking place in Waikiki is a testament to what can happen when the public, private and nonprofit sectors work together, and we hope to continue this collaborative approach," Caldwell said.
George Szigeti, president and CEO of the Hawaii Lodging & Tourism Association, agreed, praising IHS for its efforts. "We are seeing an improved Waikiki District where our local workers, residents and visitors can navigate the streets of Kalakaua and Kuhio a little safer," he said.
While the efforts underway are promising, the 2014 Statewide Homeless Point-in-Time Count recorded 541 homeless people in the tourism district in January 2014. And IHS officials say they believe that number does not represent the total population. Officials are preparing for this year’s one-day census of the homeless later this month and hope to get a more accurate number.
Waikiki Baptist Church Senior Pastor Andrew Large was glad to hear about IHS’ initial success but said homeless people still sleep at the church nightly. He hopes stepped-up outreach and enforcement eventually will make a difference for the church, which has been struggling with homeless people relieving themselves on the grounds.
"At least something is beginning to happen," Large said. "I’ve been in Hawaii for 20 years and at Waikiki Baptist Church for nine, and it’s been a never-ending cycle of frustration."
A separate partnership between IHS and the private sector is facing challenges tied to a funding goal. So far, the private sector has come up with about $112,750 of $500,000 in funding slated to augment $824,000 that IHS has put toward a $1.3 million endeavor that provides assistance to the homeless.
Inspired by IHS’ strong early results, Hilton Hawaiian Village plans to host a fundraising concert at the end of April with the goal of raising $1 million for the nonprofit’s homeless efforts.
"We think we can do it. Similar island-to-island concerts raised $480,000 for Haiti, $1.2 million for the Philippines and $1.6 million for Japan," said Jerry Gibson, area vice president for Hilton Hawaii.
Over the next month, Gibson said, he plans to reach out to other large and small businesses to support the televised concert. "We want the community to line up behind us for IHS so that we can put a real big effort into giving them as much as we can so that they can have the tools to do their job to end homelessness."
Rick Egged, president of the Waikiki Improvement Association, said the organization also is meeting with its stakeholders to bring in additional contributions.
"Frankly, I agree with those that say the problem is not solved, but I believe that they’ve made fantastic progress. The fact that we are on the right track shows that we can get results with the money that’s been raised," Egged said. "The outreach and services that are happening now weren’t available a year ago."
On Friday IHS outreach workers sometimes outnumbered potential clients as they walked the streets of Waikiki to deliver information about the housing, relocation, health care, work and personal development programs that are available.
Outreach worker Curtis McLean stopped under a Waikiki pavilion to tell 36-year-old Nicole Salazar about housing options and the relocation program. "My goal is to go back to the office and tell them I got someone signed up," McLean told Salazar.
Salazar, a vacationer who went to jail for burglary after entering another guest’s hotel room while intoxicated, said she’s struggled since her release.
"I’m sleeping on my hanai sister’s couch, but I’m hoping that I can go home to San Francisco soon," Salazar said, adding that she spends four or five nights a week in Waikiki due to her makeshift living situation. "I’ve been drinking almost every day. I’m trying to do the right thing, but it’s hard here."
Nearby, a homeless man picked up a pillow and used it to hit two other homeless men passed out on the ground. One reluctantly opened his eyes, but his younger companion never stirred despite repeated jolts to his inflatable pink raft.
"Look at him," Salazar said of the younger man. "He used to be so beautiful. He’s from Alaska. His looks have changed in the three years that he’s been out here. So many people need help."
