Starting Monday, former low-income housing facility Pauahi Hale will operate as a service hub for Oahu’s homeless population, as provided by a new five-year contract between the city and social service organization Mental Health Kokua.
The repurposing of the facility is expected to be announced at the site Monday by Mayor Kirk Caldwell.
Initial services will include public showers, restrooms and hygiene facilities, which will be open every day from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Over the next year, the facility will also introduce residential services for 42 tenants; a relocated Safe Haven program that will include a facility for 25 existing adult clients, on-site chemical dependency treatment and outreach services; and additional support in partnership with the Institute for Human Services.
Mental Health Kokua, the state’s oldest private, nonprofit mental health services organization, will operate and manage the North Pauahi Street facility. The Safe Haven program, also managed by Mental Health Kokua, is relocating to the facility from its former space on South Beretania Street.
Former city Community Services Director Pam Witty-Oakland indicated that existing Pauahi Hale tenants would not be displaced by the new arrangements. However, individuals who meet the standards of chronic homelessness under the city’s Housing First program will be allowed to move in as current tenants move on to other accommodations.
The renovation of Pauahi Hale was undertaken by the Department of Budget and Fiscal Services, the Department of Facility Maintenance and the Department of Community Services, and expedited through the city’s Vendor Self Service Small Purchase Procurement Program. The project was completed ahead of schedule at a cost of $224,787, more than $25,000 under budget, according to the mayor’s office.
CC Engineering and Construction was awarded the construction contract, which called for renovation of the lobby area, hallway, kitchen and office spaces, and the conversion of storage spaces and unoccupied units for different purposes.
About $930,000 of the funds designated for the project came from U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development funds originally awarded to ORI Anuenue Hale, a nonprofit senior care facility next to Helemano Plantation.
Approximately $8 million from the Community Development Block Grant was used for two ORI projects: the Aloha Gardens Wellness Center and Camp Pineapple 808. According to HUD, both projects were operated improperly and failed to comply with grant requirements.
In 2011, HUD ordered the city to return $2.9 million. The two sides negotiated, and HUD agreed last year to allow the funds to be used for other approved projects.
In addition to the Pauahi Hale renovations, HUD funds were also designated for a new Hauula fire station and staffing for a new affordable-housing office.
CORRECTION: Pam Witty-Oakland resigned as the city’s community services director in August. An earlier version of this story and a story on Page B-1 of Monday’s editio said she is the current director.
