$47.2M aims to house 400 homeless

Mayor Kirk Caldwell rolled out his revamped plan to deal with the homeless issue on Oahu on Wednesday, with a goal of helping more than 400 homeless individuals and families find permanent housing in the next two years via $47.2 million in various funding sources approved recently by the City Council.

The first group of chronically homeless could be under permanent roofs by Aug. 1 with the help of rental assistance vouchers made possible by $3 million in general funds aimed at helping up to 110 individuals or families, the administration said.

Standing behind Caldwell at a trellis area fronting Kuhio Beach were tourism officials, homeless services providers, Council Vice Chairman Ikaika Anderson, state housing coordinator Colin Kippen and Hono­lulu police brass.

Caldwell restated his two-pronged "compassionate disruption" approach, pressing those now on the sidewalks to seek shelter while pushing forward with a Housing First initiative to provide long-term shelter for those most in need as quickly as possible.

The mayor emphasized the need to address homelessness in Waikiki, in particular, pointing out how vital the visitor industry is to Oahu and the state.

He said that’s why he is pushing two bills designed to clear Waikiki’s sidewalks: 

» Bill 42, the so-called "sit-lie" bill patterned after an ordinance in Seattle and San Francisco, bans lying or sitting down on Waikiki sidewalks, with certain exceptions.

» Bill 43, which is similar to an existing state law covering the downtown Honolulu district, bars urinating and defecating in Waikiki public areas.

Both bills, which were introduced this week at the Council but have yet to be scheduled for any hearings, would apply 24 hours a day in the Waikiki Special Design District bordered by Ala Wai Canal and Kapahulu Avenue.

Caldwell said the bills are not designed to target the homeless. However, he said, sidewalks "were built for people to walk on — not to camp on, not to put things on, not to sleep on or lie on, but to traverse … for all of the public to use."

He also made it clear that he believes criminal activity in Waikiki needs to be addressed.

"To the extent that there is criminal activity in the homeless population, it will be pursued," the mayor said.

Honolulu Police Chief Louis Kealoha said that from Jan. 1 to June 15, officers in Waikiki issued 799 citations and made 10 arrests for park closure and illegal camping violations; issued 116 citations and made 17 arrests for liquor violations; issued 61 citations for living in a vehicle; issued 36 citations and made 17 arrests for street peddling; and issued 111 citations for smoking violations.

Caldwell said if the bills work in Waikiki, the city could choose to adopt similar prohibitions for other sections of Oahu.

Managing Director Ember Shinn outlined how $44.2 million in capital improvement project dollars would be spent to provide permanent shelter for homeless families and individuals:

» $32 million in general obligation bonds, inserted by Council leaders at the last minute, will be used by the city to acquire or develop 200 to 250 studios, one-bedroom and two-bedroom units for homeless, in all categories, in the next two years. The money can be used only where the city has full ownership of a project, structure or unit, Shinn said.

» $8.2 million from the Affordable Housing Fund will secure up to 60 studios, one-bedroom and two-bedroom units through partnerships with private developers over the next two years. Shinn said the city has already heard from interested parties.

» $4 million from the Affordable Housing Fund will provide up to 20 studio units specifically for the chronically homeless in Waikiki through acquisition and renovation through partnerships with private developers.

City Community Services Director Pam Witty-Oakland encouraged property owners in the Waikiki, Downtown-Chinatown and Waianae Coast regions to step up to provide units for sale to the city.

Caldwell also pointed out that with a $52,000 appropriation inserted by Waikiki Councilman Stanley Chang, the city will join with the Waikiki Special Improvement District Association to keep the restroom next to the Waikiki police substation open 24 hours a day. It currently opens from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.

Hawaii Lodging and Tourism Association President George Szigeti said the homeless situation is the biggest complaint he gets from Waikiki tourists. The situation appears to have worsened noticeably in the two years he has headed the association, he said.

A majority of the homeless in Waikiki have traveled here from outside Hawaii, Szigeti said, pointing out that the islands provide a friendly environment for them.

"Phoenix Rising," the street handle of a woman whose real name is "Barb," moved to Oahu’s sidewalks from northeastern Ohio three months ago with her husband, Chris, and their two sons, ages 12 and 10.

"If I have kids, and we’re going to be houseless, it’s going to be someplace warm and where I don’t have to worry about them freezing to death," she said in describing how the family bought the cheapest tickets when they lost their jobs due to the bad economy andfell behind on rent payments.

Chris, a registered nurse, has applied for employment at several locations locally, she said.

Phoenix — who listened in on Caldwell’s news conference before returning to a spot across Kalakaua next to a publication dispensing rack near Liliuokalani Avenue — described the “compassionate disruption” strategy against homelessness as “hogwash.” After being rousted by police and other city officials from Waikiki sidewalks during their first month here, the family now spends nights outside Waikiki. But they still return to the tourism mecca during the day because it’s easier to panhandle, she said.

She opposes the sit-lie bill, Phoenix said, but supports the cleanliness and safety being promoted through the urination-defecation bill. She applauded the 24-hour opening of the substation restroom but argues other restrooms should open through the night because many homeless are disabled or elderly and may not be able to make it to the one open facility.

Phoenix said her family would stay in a permanent housing unit, like the ones being proposed by Caldwell’s Housing First approach.

CORRECTION: Pam Witty-Oakland is the city’s director of community services. An earlier version of this story and the story in Thursday’s paper said she was human services director.