Kaua'i County to evict illegal campers from parks
By Jan TenBruggencate
Advertiser Kaua'i Bureau
LIHU'E, Kaua'i — Homeless people and illegal campers in Kaua'i county parks received eviction notices this week, but they are getting help finding new places to stay.
Jan Tenbruggencate • The Honolulu Advertiser
"We want to be fair and humane with this process," said Mayor Bryan Baptiste, who stressed that the evictions were necessary to restore parks to public recreational use. The county public information office said there had been numerous incidents of harassment and illegal activity involving residents at county parks.
Families living in county beach parks such as Hanama'ulu were given eviction notices with offers of help finding housing, food and healthcare.
Officials couldn't say how many homeless people are living in county parks or how many are actually seeking housing.
Kaua'i has joined Honolulu and other counties in confronting a growing homeless population. Plans have been announced to build a five-acre tent city on city land in Wai'anae to house O'ahu homeless. On the Garden Isle, there are no emergency shelters for the homeless.
Several people living in tents at Hanama'ulu Beach Park recently met with Baptiste. The campers, who did not want to be identified out of embarrassment, told The Advertiser they would rather be living in houses than on the beach, where cooking is a hassle, theft is a problem, and rowdy kids and drug users keep them awake at night.
One woman said she works part time and cannot afford even the most modest rental housing.
"I can't afford $700 to $900 a month," she said.
Another woman with nine children said she had been turned away for housing because her family was too large. The only organization that helped her was the Salvation Army, which gave her a three-bedroom tent, she said.
Including children, there are about 25 long-term homeless people living at the beach park, most with ties to the island. County parks chief Mel Nishihara said other parks seem to attract people newer to Kaua'i.
Nishihara said it's difficult to get a clear picture of the number of homeless people, partly because they fall into different categories and move around. "I would say about half need help, and the other half are there by choice," he said.
Some campers stay out of sight on beaches fronting undeveloped or government land. They remain invisible to parks personnel until private landowners or state enforcement agencies evict them. "That's when they flood into our parks and we see them," Nishihara said.
The Kaua'i Economic Opportunity Care-A-Van program, which provides healthcare and social services to the homeless, had contact with 111 people last month and sees 30 to 35 new clients every month, said Stephanie Fernandes, the agency's homeless and housing program director.
Since not all people require services each month, and some leave the island or find housing, Kaua'i Economic Opportunity also does not have a clear number of the island's homeless population, she said.
The county has met with state agencies, churches and social service organizations to set up a system to help evicted campers who don't have a place to go.
Kaua'i Economic Opportunity will be the lead agency in the effort. The agency operates several group homes and apartments.
The county said it gave notices to people camping illegally in all county parks, giving them 30 days' notice to leave. The eviction notices include the phone numbers of community organizations where people can find help with shelter, food, clothing and healthcare.
Campers will be contacted directly before the Nov. 16 deadline.
The public information office said: "During the next 30 days, a transition team made up of county park rangers, (police) officials, a psychologist and representatives from social-service organizations, faith-based organizations and (Kaua'i Economic Opportunity) will be going to various county parks to talk to the transient populations and illegal campers, inform them of the upcoming parks clearing and ensure they have the necessary information on where to go for assistance."
Reach Jan TenBruggencate at jant@honoluluadvertiser.com or (808) 245-3074.
