Posted on: Monday, February 28, 2005

Measures aim to ease homelessness

By Rod Ohira
Advertiser Central O'ahu Writer

Eighty percent of the estimated 20,000 homeless in Hawai'i are living at O'ahu beaches and parks.

The major pockets of homelessness on this island are in Mokule'ia, the Wai'anae Coast, Sand Island, 'Ewa Beach and 'A'ala Park, said state Rep. Dennis Arakaki, D-30th (Moanalua, Kalihi Valley, 'Alewa), chairman of the House health committee. The homeless population at Ala Moana Beach Park has declined because of police sweeps, Arakaki added.

Twenty thousand is a working number for visible homeless, Arakaki said. "The hidden homeless — those living in cars, vans, abandoned structures — we don't have any way of knowing how many there are," he added.

Lawmakers are looking at several bills concerning homeless in the current session.

• House Bill 1303 HD1. Creates more affordable rental housing. Establishes homeless programs. Allows more individuals to qualify for lower-cost housing. Makes administrative changes to various state housing programs. Establishes a legislative affordable-rental housing and homeless task force.

• Senate Bill 1851, House Bill 1575. Appropriates money for homeless and transitional housing projects on Kaua'i, Hawai'i and Maui; self-help projects in all counties and a state homeless shelter program.

• Senate Bill 1852, House Bill 780. Authorizes issuing general obligation bonds and appropriate money for homeless shelters.

• Senate Bill 1717. Appropriates money for homeless shelter stipend payments.

"The approach now is toward renting affordable low-income family housing and to shy away from building homeless shelters because they don't seem to work," Arakaki said. "It comes down to basic economics: rent. I think government has a role to provide assistance for basic needs, such as rent."

Enforcement action, meanwhile, is ongoing.

The Department of Transportation moved homeless off state property last week in Mokule'ia and Wahiawa.

On Thursday, four families moved from their camp on Farrington Highway near Dillingham Airfield. There were 15 families there two weeks ago when DOT gave them notice to move. "They were camping near the highway and there was concern for their safety," DOT spokesman Scott Ishikawa said.

On Friday, DOT swept the area under the Wilson Bridge in Wahiawa, where growing numbers of homeless people, and criminal activity, have been a concern for area residents. The land under the bridge is DOT property.

Reach Rod Ohira at 535-8181 or at rohira@honoluluadvertiser.com.