A continuous, collaborative effort is needed to maintain some semblance of order in Waikiki — where the homeless situation reached a crisis level just two years ago.
It would be unwise to even consider scaling back on homeless outreach or enforcement in the state’s top tourism district, or to let proven efforts slide.
Indeed, recent cutbacks in Institute for Human Services (IHS) Waikiki outreach efforts — the result of a lapse in visitor-industry funding — have had noticeable repercussions: Homelessness is on the rise in an area where image is everything.
What’s needed is a consistent funding source for homeless services that keep Waikiki presentable for visitors and residents alike.
IHS hit a roadblock this spring when the Hawaii Lodging &Tourism Association (HLTA) moved the outreach program’s major fundraiser, the Hawaii for Hawaii benefit concert, to Oct. 22 from May.
Unfortunately, the concert’s new timing at the end of the nonprofit’s fiscal year prompted IHS in March to reduce its outreach and shuttle services from four times weekly to twice weekly.
With homeless issues in Waikiki top of mind, it’s troubling that visitor-industry officials weren’t able to anticipate the impact of such a change. Nonprofits such as IHS have serious fiscal constraints, and any adjustments in funding have a direct impact on services.
The effects have been felt in Waikiki over the past few months. For instance, a new wave of homeless people has turned up on Waikiki beaches, some of whom use city lifeguard towers as shelters and bathrooms. On a recent Friday morning, 25 homeless campers lined Waikiki’s shoreline, many using hotel towels as blankets.
Mufi Hannemann, who heads HLTA, has now guaranteed that IHS will receive the funds it needs to continue its Waikiki work from the Hawaii Hotel Industry Foundation, which controls HLTA’s charitable funds. IHS and two other entities will receive the proceeds from October’s benefit concert.
Those, however, are only short-term fixes to shore up needed efforts.
Beyond that, Hannemann said the industry will work with IHS’s board to create a sustainable business model that isn’t as dependent on HLTA funding. That’s certainly a sensible goal; still, hoteliers and other direct beneficiaries of tourism need to remain engaged — financially and otherwise — in the program’s success.
IHS’s Waikiki program cost $1.3 million in its first 19 months, with about $561,000 coming from HLTA and other visitor industry sources, and $805,000 from IHS’s own budget and fundraising efforts.
With Hawaii’s record-setting number of visitors and the revenue they generate, the visitor industry can ill afford to reduce its support for IHS outreach.
Despite the recent setback, the IHS outreach program so far has served 607 homeless individuals, with 417 moved off Waikiki streets. Since November 2014, 185 homeless individuals were moved into shelter while another 232 moved into housing.
IHS also provided 1,564 rides to shelter facilities and helped 186 out-of-towners go home through an airline relocation program, which paid a portion of their tickets.
That is measurable progress, and IHS’ efforts cannot be curtailed in a district that is so important to the state’s economic health.
Honolulu police Capt. Leland Cadoy rightly said that a collaborative response is necessary when it comes to the homeless population.
“Outreach workers can continue where we leave off,” Cadoy said. “We have to work together. It takes a constant effort.”
The type of outreach IHS provides is critical in moving the needle on the nation’s highest per-capita homeless population. As the homeless are shuttled from Waikiki and other areas, it is essential they have safe places to seek shelter.
Recently, Council members have been floating the idea of a city-sanctioned tent city on Oahu after traveling to Seattle, which embraces the concept.
The city, however, must learn from past mistakes.
If tent cities are a serious consideration, they will have to incorporate wraparound or social services, which was notably absent from the city’s Aala Park tent city that operated between 1990 and 1993.
That effort ended in failure after a night of “wilding” that included an attempted murder and a string of crime scenes.
A coordinated effort among all sectors — government, private and nonprofit — is needed to further reduce the state’s homeless population.
Hawaii cannot afford to lose momentum in its fight against homelessness.
