Community supports housing homeless — somewhere else

A proposed modular housing project for homeless families in Waianae is drawing criticism from residents who contend that it is not a good fit for their community.

The city said last month it would purchase a 1.1-acre property near Waianae High School and next to Maluhia Lutheran Church on Farrington Highway as a site to house the area’s homeless. The project calls for 16 to 20 modular units — about 480 square feet each with two bedrooms, one bathroom and a kitchen — that would accommodate 75 to 90 people and cost about $2.3 million. The site would also include a parking lot, common room and program office.

City officials said the project is slated for completion by next summer.

Residents wanted to know what impact it would have on neighborhood and school safety, and traffic on congested Farrington Highway.

Among concerns aired last week before the Waianae Coast Neighborhood Board was that the area would become a draw for the rest of Oahu’s homeless population.

“We know the problem. There are so many other places to put this project,” said Candy Suiso, co-founder of Searider Productions, an elective program focused on media production at Waianae High School. “Another one (housing project) in our community is not going to solve the problem.”

City officials have maintained that they are committed to housing the homeless in the communities they live in. The City Council appropriated funding for homeless initiatives islandwide, including a transitional housing project on Sand Island.

City Community Services Director Gary Nakata told residents the city will continue working with residents and service providers in the area to gather input, and said he intends to hold a town hall meeting on the project.

“We understand this community has been through a lot,” said Nakata, who along with Sandra Pfund, chief of the city’s Office of Strategic Development, and Jun Yang, executive director of the mayor’s Office of Housing, presented the proposal at the meeting. “There are others (homeless) that are not in good situations. And we want to help them come into a good situation as well.”

According to a “point in time” count, there are about 4,900 homeless individuals islandwide this year, about 1,900 of whom are unsheltered. The count estimates that on the Waianae Coast, there are nearly 370 unsheltered homeless and about 1,025 sheltered homeless this year.

City Councilwoman Kymberly Pine, who represents the area, said the number of homeless in Waianae was a reason the project will be valuable to the community.

“I know that we can use this as an opportunity,” Pine added. “My vision is that these are for our local families. I made it very clear, a very loud voice to the governor’s team on homeless, that we will not accept other people’s homeless in our district anymore.”

Residents wanted to know how the city would ensure the project would serve only families from Waianae.

“Why are we the targets?” asked Johnnie-Mae Perry, former neighborhood board chairwoman. “We are being discriminated because of our economic and social challenges.”

Others suggested building the project in another community — one with more jobs and opportunities — and that the city should invest funds into upgrading the Waianae Coast’s existing projects and infrastructure. Residents also requested more information about the programs and services that will be offered to tenants.

“The community cannot take care of our homeless alone,” said Glen Kila, a member of the neighborhood board. “This place is not appropriate. I support 100 percent the homeless project, but not here because we don’t have the infrastructure.”

An online petition opposing the project has about 400 supporters.

State Sen. Maile Shimabukuro (D, Kalaeloa- Waianae-Makaha) said that investing in existing infrastructure and projects could be a viable option. She also said she supports housing the homeless in the areas they come from.

“I think that having these types of housing is the solution because if we can support people to have a stable home … then, I think, it would help them to be able to get the education they need and gain the skills they need to get the job,” Shimabukuro said.

Twinkle Borge, who is known as a leader of the homeless encampment near the Waianae Boat Harbor, said the site is a convenient location because it is close to schools and buses. But she raised concerns about flooding in the area.

She had estimated that about 300 “houseless,” including more than 25 families, live near the boat harbor.

“I look at it as a great solution for the families,” Borge said. “This opportunity alone, I can see this boosting up the kids. I’m for it but there are a lot of questions I still have.”

Added Pfund, “It’s very simple but it would provide shelter and security, a safe place to live. We hope the community will embrace this.”

Cedric Gates, chairman of the neighborhood board, said, “Even though we might be in opposition of this project, the main objective of this project is to house our homeless keiki and their families. I know we have a lot of community concerns. I think that we need to work for solutions.”