Illegal campers cleared off Kaua'i beaches
By Jan TenBruggencate
Advertiser Kaua'i Bureau
LIHU'E, Kaua'i — The Garden Island's homeless and other unpermitted campers who have been living in county parks are no longer there, after a month-long program launched by Mayor Bryan Baptiste.
Baptiste announced yesterday that park rangers and police swept county parks this week and issued only two camping violations — one to an individual and one to a family — and both have since found housing. Others of the 40 to 50 people who had been living illegally in county parks have found housing, the mayor said.
"Nobody is in a situation where they have no place to go," he said.
Baptiste said the county had been frustrated in responding to reports of harassment, drug abuse, teen drinking and other problems in parks, because it has been difficult to sort out legal campers from illegal casual campers, homeless folks without other options, temporary visitors and others.
He said he would eventually like to have county parks use numbered camping spots, so it is clear who's supposed to be camping there and who's not.
Once the county announced it would clear out illegal campers, many of them turned out to be people who had other options, the mayor said. Some moved to the Mainland, and some to other islands. He said the county did not pay for any airfares off the island.
A few individuals had housing "but liked living outdoors," and they simply moved back to their homes, he said.
And some needed assistance. Baptiste said a coalition of churches, the Kaua'i Economic Opportunity organization, the county housing office and other groups worked to find options for those without alternatives, and were able to respond to all those who couldn't find other options. He said 10 to 12 people were placed by the county housing agency, and several found rental housing on their own — in some cases places where they could stay in return for doing some kind of work.
The mayor said this effort has, for now, resolved the issue of homeless people living in county parks, but has not solved the island's larger homeless problem.
"The homeless situation is much bigger than our parks. There are people in state parks, and people living in cars" in many areas, he said.
He said the county is working with other agencies to find a temporary shelter for those without options, and hopes within 18 to 24 months to have established a permanent emergency shelter. He said a site has been selected, but he was not ready to identify it.
The site has an existing building, and the county plans to move four temporary office structures there and to convert them to housing use, he said.
Reach Jan TenBruggencate at jant@honoluluadvertiser.com or (808) 245-3074.
