Posted on: Tuesday, August 10, 2004

ISLAND VOICES
Homeless solution is moving forward

By Lynn Maunakea
Executive director of the Institute for Human Services

On behalf of the men, women and families with children who are homeless and in need of affordable housing, thank you, Gov. Lingle!

The governor's commitment to developing 17,000 affordable rental-housing units in six years will radically alter the lives of many people who are currently homeless, and those who are precariously housed.

The current housing market has renters anxious about the stability of their housing. While wages remain stagnant and rental prices continue to climb, working people, sometimes holding down two jobs at a time, find themselves at risk of becoming homeless.

Lower interest rates have translated into a boon for housing sales. However, as property owners sell their rentals, they permanently remove these units from the market. This has put the squeeze on those who can least afford it — lower-income renters. The only way to tackle this dangerously unbalanced housing market is to develop more housing.

These are exciting times for Hawai'i in regard to ending chronic homelessness. Innovative programs, like the successful Permanent Supportive Housing model, are working in our community. This program helps people who are chronically homeless, many struggling with mental illness, substance abuse and/or physical disability. Experience shows that when we help chronically homeless people find housing, and then provide ongoing supportive services such as assistance with rental subsidies, financial management, nutrition, etc., they stay stabilized in housing.

Through this program, agencies like the Institute for Human Services are able to develop relationships with landlords. Regular rent payment to the landlord is guaranteed, and any tenant/landlord situations are mediated by agency staff. Gov. Lingle recognizes the need to develop housing for these citizens and the importance of providing the supportive services.

It is crucial we find sustainable and permanent funding for supportive services and programs like Permanent Supportive Housing.

With the combination of support services, affordable rentals and caring landlords, we will see a marked difference in our parks, beaches and streets where homeless people with nowhere else to go congregate. If we all pull together on this, we can truly end chronic homelessness.